Board wants more disciplinary powers

Monday, July 3, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

The state Board of Medical Examiners plans to ask the 2001 Legislature to give it more power to discipline errant doctors.

Under the board's plan, it would be able to bring charges against a doctor for disruptive behavior in dealing with other physicians, hospital employees or patients when the care of the patient suffers.

There would be grounds for disciplinary action if a physician under contract to a managed care organization declined to recommend appropriate services for a patient in order to make more money. Some doctors employed by health maintenance organizations, board members were told, make more money if they limit referral of patients to specialists or cut back on treatment.

The board also wants the power to discipline those who engage "in sexual contact with patient surrogates or key third parties, which exploits the physician-patient relationship in a sexual way."

If the board has its way, it may also require doctors to take medical proficiency tests every 10 years.

The board proposed the idea last month, and decided Friday that more study was needed on the proposal. Lessly said Nevada is the first state to discuss the requirement.

The board renews doctors' licenses every two years. If the plan were to pass, doctors would have to show they have passed a basic medical examination within the past 10 years of the renewal. The board will appoint a committee to study the proposal.

Lessly said the examination is to "weed out the horribly incompetent physician." He said this is becoming a hot topic nationally and the "public is going to demand this and it will pass."

But board member Dr. Paul Stewart of Las Vegas said physicians are measured in the field in which they practice. And they have to be recertified periodically in their specialty.

The board also endorsed "in concept" proposals by advanced nurse practitioners to prescribe narcotics and to permit retired physicians to volunteer to provide free service in certain circumstances. The board said it wanted to see more details of both plans before giving its full backing.