West Virginia Code § 30-4-15

Special volunteer dentist or dental hygienist license; civil immunity for
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voluntary services rendered to indigents.
(a) There is continued a special volunteer dentist and dental hygienist license for dentists
and dental hygienists retired or retiring from the active practice of dentistry and dental
hygiene who wish to donate their expertise for the care and treatment of indigent and needy
patients in the clinical setting of clinics organized, in whole or in part, for thee delivery of
health care services without charge. The special volunteer dentist or dental hygienist license
shall be issued by the board to a dentist or dental hygienist licensed orr otherwise eligible for
licensure under this article and the legislative rules promulgated hereunder without the
payment of an application fee, license fee or renewal fee, shall be issued for the remainder of
the licensing period and renewed consistent with the board's other licensing requirements.
The board shall develop application forms for the special licetnse provided in this subsection
which shall contain the dentist's or dental hygienist's acknowledgment that:
(1) The dentist's or dental hygienist's practice under the special volunteer dentist or dental
hygienist license will be exclusively devoted to providing dentistry or dental hygiene care to
needy and indigent persons in West Virginia; s
(2) The dentist or dental hygienist will not receive any payment or compensation, either
direct or indirect, or have the expecgtation of any payment or compensation but may donate
to the clinic the proceeds of any reimbursement, for any dentistry or dental hygiene services
rendered under the special voelunteer dentist or dental hygienist license;
(3) The dentist or dental hygienist will supply any supporting documentation that the board
may reasonably require; and
(4) The dentist or dental hygienist agrees to continue to participate in continuing
professional education as required by the board for the special volunteer dentist or dental
hygienist.
(b) Any person engaged in the active practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in this state
whose license is in good standing may donate their expertise for the care and treatment of
indigent and needy patients pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic organized, in whole or
in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge to the patient. Services
rendered pursuant to an arrangement may be performed in either the office of the dentist or
dental hygienist or the clinical setting.
(c) Any dentist or dental hygienist who renders any dentistry or dental hygiene service to
indigent and needy patients of a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of
health care services without charge under a special volunteer dentist or dental hygienist
license authorized under subsection (a) of this section or pursuant to an arrangement with a
clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this section without payment or
compensation or the expectation or promise of payment or compensation is immune from
liability in any civil action arising out of any act or omission incident to rendering service at
the clinic unless the act or omission was the result of the dentist's or dental hygienist's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. In order for the immunity under this subsection to apply,
there shall be a written agreement between the dentist or dental hygienist and the clinic,
pursuant to which the dentist or dental hygienist will provide voluntary uncompensated
services under the control of the clinic to patients of the clinic, executed prior to the
rendering of any services by the dentist or dental hygienist at the clinic: Provided, That any
clinic entering into such written agreement is required to maintain liability ecoverage of not
less than $1 million per occurrence.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a clinic organized, in
whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge is not relieved from
imputed liability for the negligent acts of a dentist or dental hygienist rendering voluntary
uncompensated services at or for the clinic under a special vtolunteer dentist or dental
hygienist license issued under subsection (a) of this section or who renders such care and
treatment pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section.
(e) For purposes of this section, "otherwise elsigible for licensure" means the satisfaction of
all the requirements for licensure as listed in section eight of this article and in the
legislative rules promulgated thereunder, except the fee requirements of subdivision (6) of
said section and of the legislative rugles promulgated by the board relating to fees.
(f) Nothing in this section maye be construed as requiring the board to issue a special
volunteer dentist or dental hygienist license to any dentist or dental hygienist whose license
is or has been subject toL any disciplinary action or to any dentist or dental hygienist who has
surrendered a license or caused such license to lapse, expire or become inactive in lieu of
having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her license, or who has been
denied a dentist or dental hygienist license.
(g) Any policy or contract of liability insurance providing coverage for liability that is sold,
issuWed or delivered in this state to any dentist or dental hygienist covered under the
provisions of this article shall be read so as to contain a provision or endorsement whereby
the company issuing such policy waives or agrees not to assert as a defense on behalf of the
policyholder or any beneficiary thereof, to any claim covered by the terms of such policy
within the policy limits, the immunity from liability of the insured by reason of the care and
treatment of needy and indigent patients by a dentist or dental hygienist who holds a special
volunteer dentist or dental hygienist license or who renders such care and treatment
pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this
section.

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