1. A. The DRC shall:

   1. (1) Consider and vote on the recommendations of the Triage Committee;
   2. (2) Review documents received by the Board during the course of the Board’s investigations; and
   3. (3) Make recommendations to the Board for the disposition of the complaint for the Board’s vote.

2. B. When considering the recommendations of the Triage Committee, the DRC may vote to:

   1. (1) Accept all of the recommendations of the Triage Committee;
   2. (2) Accept some of the recommendations of the Triage Committee;
   3. (3) Accept none of the recommendations of the Triage Committee; or
   4. (4) Make any other recommendations.

3. C. After receiving recommendations from the Triage Committee, the DRC, without Board approval, may vote to:

   1. (1) Mail or deliver to the respondent a request for:

      1. (a) A response to the complaint and a request for patient records;
      2. (b) A response to the complaint only; or
      3. (c) Patient records only;
   2. (2) Mail or deliver to any person a request for information; or
   3. (3) Refer the matter for further investigation.
4. D. Complaints may be referred directly to the DRC without prior review by the Triage Committee.

5. E. The DRC may make the following recommendations to the Board:

   1. (1) Dismiss the complaint;
   2. (2) Place the case on administrative hold;
   3. (3) Close the case;
   4. (4) Issue an advisory letter or letter of education;
   5. (5) Issue a cease and desist order;
   6. (6) Refer the case to peer review for mediation;

   7. (7) Mail or deliver to the respondent a request for:

      1. (a) A response to the complaint and a request for patient records;
      2. (b) A response to the complaint only; or
      3. (c) Patient records only;
   8. (8) Mail or deliver to any person a request for information;

   9. (9) Refer the matter to the:

      1. (a) Dental Well-Being Committee; or
      2. (b) Dental Hygiene Well-Being Committee;
   10. (10) Refer the matter for further investigation;
   11. (11) Refer the matter to an administrative prosecutor;
   12. (12) Request other information or documentation from any person that the committee deems relevant to the disposition of the complaint; or
   13. (13) Any other recommendation that the DRC may make to the Board.

Authority: Health Occupations Article, §§1-603, 4-205, 4-316, and 4-318, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01 — .09 adopted as an emergency provision effective September 29, 1980 (7:21 Md. R. 1989); emergency status expired February 14, 1981; adopted permanently effective March 6, 1981 (8:5 Md. R. 475)

Regulation .05A amended effective November 20, 1994 (21:23 Md. R. 1933)

Regulations .01—.09 repealed and new Regulations .01 — .31 adopted effective March 1, 2004 (31:4 Md. R. 317)

chapter revised effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 337)

Regulation .05A amended effective December 8, 2016 (43:24 Md. R. 1350)