54-1833. DUTIES OF BOARD OF MEDICINE. (1) If the board of medicine ("board") has reasonable cause to believe that a physician or physician assistant licensed to practice medicine in this state is unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients because of a condition described in section 54-1832, Idaho Code, the board shall serve upon the physician or physician assistant a notice of hearing on the sole issue of the capacity of the physician or physician assistant to competently and safely engage in the practice of medicine.

(2) Every physician and physician assistant who accepts the privilege of being licensed under this chapter gives consent to:

(a) Submitting at the licensee’s own expense to an immediate mental or physical examination when directed in writing by the board to do so; and

(b) The admissibility of the reports of the examining physician’s testimony or examination, and waives all objections on the ground the reports constitute a privileged communication.

(3) The examination may be ordered by the board, only upon a finding of reasonable cause to believe:

(a) The physician or physician assistant is unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety because of a condition described in section 54-1832, Idaho Code; and

(b) Immediate action by the board is necessary to prevent harm to patients or the general public.

(4) Failure of a physician to submit to the examination ordered under this section is a ground for the board’s immediate suspension of the physician’s license by written order.

History:

[54-1833, added 1976, ch. 290, sec. 3, p. 1000; am. 2019, ch. 26, sec. 22, p. 69.]