Sec. 206.351. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY

(a) The medical board by order may impose an administrative penalty against a person licensed under this chapter who violates this chapter or a rule or order adopted under this chapter.

(b) The penalty may be in an amount not to exceed $5,000. Each day a violation continues or occurs is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a penalty.

(c) The medical board shall base the amount of the penalty on:

(1) the severity of patient harm;

(2) the severity of economic harm to any person;

(3) the severity of any environmental harm;

(4) the increased potential for harm to the public;

(5) any attempted concealment of misconduct;

(6) any premeditated or intentional misconduct;

(7) the motive for the violation;

(8) any prior misconduct of a similar or related nature;

(9) the license holder's disciplinary history;

(10) any prior written warnings or written admonishments from any government agency or official regarding statutes or rules relating to the misconduct;

(11) whether the violation is of a board order;

(12) the person's failure to implement remedial measures to correct or mitigate harm from the misconduct;

(13) the person's lack of rehabilitative potential or likelihood of future misconduct of a similar nature;

(14) any relevant circumstances increasing the seriousness of the misconduct; and

(15) any other matter that justice may require.

(d) The medical board by rule shall prescribe the procedures by which it may impose an administrative penalty. A proceeding under this section is subject to Chapter 2001, Government Code.

(e) If the medical board by order determines that a violation has occurred and imposes an administrative penalty, the medical board shall give notice to the person of the order. The notice must include a statement of the person's right to judicial review of the order.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1014, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.