LAC 46:XXXIII.803. Recommendations by the Disciplinary Oversight Committee (DOC)

A. If the subject of the complaint is a licensee or a former licensee, the recommendations of the Disciplinary Oversight Committee (“DOC”) can include, but are not limited to, any of the following: 1. send the licensee a letter of concern. This letter of concern is not considered a sanction; it is sent when there is concern that there may have been a violation, but it is not clear that there has been a violation. The letter of concern is not made public, but is kept in the board records for future reference; 2. additional investigation by the board. If additional investigation is determined by the board president to be appropriate, then the board conducts additional investigation, after which the matter, along with the additional investigation materials, is sent back to the DOC for a second recommendation, which is again provided for determination to the board president; 3. informal resolution via correspondence. The licensee may, via correspondence, be offered an informal settlement of the matter; 4. informal dentist-to-dentist conference. The licensee may be offered the opportunity to meet with members of the DOC on an informal basis to discuss the allegations in the complaint; 5. formal adjudication. If formal adjudication is chosen, a new committee is formed to hear the charges against the licensee and formal charges are filed; 6. take no action against the licensee; 7. refer the complainant to the Louisiana Dental Association’s voluntary peer review program and take no action against the licensee; 8. ask a court for injunctive relief. If a former licensee is practicing without a license, this option to ask a court to enjoin the licensee from practicing, along with all of the above options, is available; 9. refer to the authorities for criminal charges. B. If the complaint is against a non-licensee who has never held a Louisiana license, the recommendations of the DOC can include, but are not limited to any of the following: 1. take no action against the subject of the complaint; 2. asking a court for injunctive relief; 3. refer to the authorities for criminal charges.