43-45-07.3. Complaints - Investigations

43-45-07.3. Complaints - Investigations 1. A person may file a written complaint with the board citing specific allegations of unprofessional conduct by a licensee. The board shall notify the licensee of the complaint and request a written response from the licensee. 2. The board may investigate a complaint on its own motion, without requiring the identity of the complainant to be made a matter of public record, if the board concludes good cause exists for preserving the confidentiality of the complainant. 3. A licensee who is the subject of an investigation by the board shall cooperate fully with the investigation. Cooperation includes responding fully and promptly to any reasonable question raised by or on behalf of the board relating to the subject of the investigation, and providing copies of patient records when reasonably requested by the board and accompanied by the appropriate release. 4. In order to pursue the investigation, the board may subpoena and examine witnesses and records, including patient records, and copy, photograph, or take samples. The board may require the licensee to give statements under oath, to submit to a physical or mental examination, or both, by a physician or physicians and other qualified evaluation professionals selected by the board if it appears to be in the best interest of the public that this evaluation be secured. A written request from the board constitutes authorization to release information. The patient records released to the board are not public records. 5. Unless there is a patient release on file allowing the release of information at the public hearing, all patient records acquired by the board in the board's investigation are confidential. All board meetings at which patient testimony or records are taken or reviewed are confidential and closed to the public. If no patient testimony or records are taken or reviewed, the remainder of the meeting is an open meeting unless a specific exemption is otherwise applicable.