As used in the Oklahoma Dental Mediation Act:

1. 1. "Board" means the Board of Dentistry;
2. 2. "Dentist" means a graduate of an accredited dental college who has been licensed by the Board to practice dentistry, as defined in Section 328.19 of this title; and

3. 3. "Mediation committee" means a committee of persons duly constituted of or appointed by any voluntary dental association, voluntary dental society, or the Board. The mediation committee is authorized, upon receiving a written request for a review, to conduct a review of the complaints or requests for review of persons, the treatment performed by a dentist and, where appropriate, hold hearings and conduct personal examinations of dental treatment of patients. The mediation committee may, but shall not be obligated to:

   1. a. evaluate the quality of health care services provided by the dentist being reviewed,
   2. b. determine whether health care services rendered were professionally indicated or were performed in compliance with the applicable standards of care,
   3. c. where appropriate, determine whether the cost of health care rendered was considered reasonable given the circumstances of the particular case,
   4. d. evaluate the quality and timeliness of health care services rendered by a dentist for a patient, and

   5. e. recommend to the parties, a method of settlement, for their acceptance or rejection.

      Any decision by the mediation committee not to review a matter shall be communicated by the committee to the affected persons within thirty (30) days after the committee has received the material submitted pursuant to Section 328.65 of this title.

Laws 1991, HB 1596, c. 213, § 3, emerg. eff. May 21, 1991; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1548, c. 203, § 1, eff. November 1, 1997 (superseded document available).