(a) In the event of a formal or informal complaint concerning the activity of a person certified to practice medicine that presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health, the Board may temporarily suspend the person's certificate to practice medicine, pending a hearing, upon the written order of the Secretary of State or the Secretary's designee, with the concurrence of the Board President or the Board President's designee. An order temporarily suspending a certificate to practice medicine may not be issued unless the person or the person's attorney received at least 24 hours' written or oral notice before the temporary suspension so that the person or the person's attorney can file a written response to the proposed suspension. The decision as to whether to issue the temporary order of suspension will be decided on the written submissions. An order of temporary suspension pending a hearing may remain in effect for no longer than 60 days from the date of the issuance of the order unless the temporarily suspended person requests a continuance of the hearing date. If the temporarily suspended person requests a continuance, the order of temporary suspension remains in effect until the hearing panel convenes and a decision is rendered. (b) A person whose certificate to practice medicine has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section must be notified of the temporary suspension immediately and in writing. Notification consists of a copy of the complaint and the order of temporary suspension pending a hearing personally served upon the person or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person's last known address. (c) A person whose certificate to practice medicine has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section may request an expedited hearing. The Board shall schedule the hearing on an expedited basis, provided that the Board receives the request within 5 calendar days from the date on which the person received notification of the decision to temporarily suspend the person's certificate to practice medicine. (d) As soon as possible after the issuance of an order temporarily suspending a person's certificate to practice medicine pending a hearing, the Board shall appoint a 3-member hearing panel consisting of 2 physician members and 1 public member of the Board if practicable. After notice to the person pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the hearing panel shall convene within 60 days of the date of the issuance of the order of temporary suspension to consider the evidence regarding the matters alleged in the complaint. If the person requests in a timely manner an expedited hearing, the hearing panel shall convene within 15 days of the receipt of the request by the Board. The 3-member panel shall proceed to a hearing in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 1734 of this title and shall render a decision within 30 days of the hearing. (e) In addition to making findings of fact, the hearing panel shall also determine whether the facts found by it constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health. If the hearing panel determines that the facts found constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health, the order of temporary suspension must remain in effect until the Board, under § 8735 of Title 29, deliberates and reaches conclusions of law based upon the findings of fact made by the hearing panel. An order of temporary suspension may not remain in effect for longer than 60 days from the date of the decision rendered by the hearing panel unless the suspended person requests an extension of the order pending a final decision of the Board. Upon the final decision of the Board, an order of temporary suspension is vacated as a matter of law and is replaced by the disciplinary action, if any, ordered by the Board.
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