The State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision may suspend, revoke or order any other appropriate sanctions against the license of any physician or surgeon holding a license to practice in this state for unprofessional conduct, but no such suspension, revocation or other penalty shall be made until the licensee is cited to appear for hearing. No such citation shall be issued except upon sworn complaint filed with the secretary of the Board charging the licensee with having been guilty of unprofessional conduct and setting forth the particular act or acts alleged to constitute unprofessional conduct. In the event it comes to the attention of the Board that a violation of the rules of professional conduct may have occurred, even though a formal complaint or charge may not have been filed, the Board staff may conduct an investigation of the possible violation, and may upon its own motion institute a formal complaint. In the course of the investigation persons appearing before the Board may be required to testify under oath. Upon the filing of a complaint, either by an individual or the Board staff as provided herein, the citation must forthwith be issued by the secretary of the Board over the signature of the secretary and seal of the Board, setting forth the complaint of unprofessional conduct, and giving due notice of the time and place of the hearing by the Board. In any case in which a physician disputes allegations made in a complaint, the matter shall be set and heard by the Board at the next regular meeting of the Board occurring at least thirty (30) days after the day of service of the citation, exclusive of the day of service, but will be heard not later than the next regular meeting of the Board occurring ninety (90) days after service of the citation, exclusive of the day of service. No continuance may be granted by the Board on its own motion or at the request of the defendant or his or her counsel or at the request of the attorney for the state, unless the record of the case, either orally or in writing, sets forth a finding that the ends of justice served by the granting of such continuance outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy hearing. The defendant shall file a written answer under oath with the secretary of the Board within twenty (20) days after the service of the citation, exclusive of the day of service. The secretary of the Board may extend the time of answer upon satisfactory showing that the defendant is for reasonable cause unable to answer within the twenty (20) days exclusive of the day of service, but in no case shall the time be extended beyond the date of the next regular meeting of the Board, unless a continuance is granted by the Board.

Added by Laws 1923, c. 59, p. 108, § 23, emerg. eff. March 31, 1923. Amended by Laws 1955, p. 328, § 1, emerg. eff. March 17, 1955; Laws 1987, c. 118, § 23, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 1994, c. 323, § 26, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1995, c. 211, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 2014, c. 176, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2019, c. 492, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.