11529
. (a) The administrative law judge of the Medical Quality
Hearing Panel established pursuant to Section 11371 may issue an
interim order suspending a license, imposing drug testing, continuing
education, supervision of procedures, limitations on the authority
to prescribe, furnish, administer, or dispense controlled substances,
or other license restrictions. Interim orders may be issued only if
the affidavits in support of the petition show that the licensee has
engaged in, or is about to engage in, acts or omissions constituting
a violation of the Medical Practice Act or the appropriate practice
act governing each allied health profession, or is unable to practice
safely due to a mental or physical condition, and that permitting
the licensee to continue to engage in the profession for which the
license was issued will endanger the public health, safety, or
welfare. The failure to comply with an order issued pursuant to
Section 820 of the Business and Professions Code may constitute
grounds to issue an interim suspension order under this section.
(b) All orders authorized by this section shall be issued only
after a hearing conducted pursuant to subdivision (d), unless it
appears from the facts shown by affidavit that serious injury would
result to the public before the matter can be heard on notice. Except
as provided in subdivision (c), the licensee shall receive at least
15 days' prior notice of the hearing, which notice shall include
affidavits and all other information in support of the order.
(c) If an interim order is issued without notice, the
administrative law judge who issued the order without notice shall
cause the licensee to be notified of the order, including affidavits
and all other information in support of the order by a 24-hour
delivery service. That notice shall also include the date of the
hearing on the order, which shall be conducted in accordance with the
requirement of subdivision (d), not later than 20 days from the date
of issuance. The order shall be dissolved unless the requirements of
subdivision (a) are satisfied.
(d) For the purposes of the hearing conducted pursuant to this
section, the licentiate shall, at a minimum, have the following
rights:
(1) To be represented by counsel.
(2) To have a record made of the proceedings, copies of which may
be obtained by the licentiate upon payment of any reasonable charges
associated with the record.
(3) To present written evidence in the form of relevant
declarations, affidavits, and documents.
The discretion of the administrative law judge to permit testimony
at the hearing conducted pursuant to this section shall be identical
to the discretion of a superior court judge to permit testimony at a
hearing conducted pursuant to Section 527 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(4) To present oral argument.
(e) Consistent with the burden and standards of proof applicable
to a preliminary injunction entered under Section 527 of the Code of
Civil Procedure, the administrative law judge shall grant the interim
order if, in the exercise of discretion, the administrative law
judge concludes that:
(1) There is a reasonable probability that the petitioner will
prevail in the underlying action.
(2) The likelihood of injury to the public in not issuing the
order outweighs the likelihood of injury to the licensee in issuing
the order.
(f) In all cases in which an interim order is issued, and an
accusation is not filed and served pursuant to Sections 11503 and
11505 within 30 days of the date on which the parties to the hearing
on the interim order have submitted the matter, the order shall be
dissolved.
Upon service of the accusation the licensee shall have, in
addition to the rights granted by this section, all of the rights and
privileges available as specified in this chapter. If the licensee
requests a hearing on the accusation, the board shall provide the
licensee with a hearing within 30 days of the request, unless the
licensee stipulates to a later hearing, and a decision within 15 days
of the date the decision is received from the administrative law
judge, or the board shall nullify the interim order previously
issued, unless good cause can be shown by the Division of Medical
Quality for a delay.
(g) If an interim order is issued, a written decision shall be
prepared within 15 days of the hearing, by the administrative law
judge, including findings of fact and a conclusion articulating the
connection between the evidence produced at the hearing and the
decision reached.
(h) Notwithstanding the fact that interim orders issued pursuant
to this section are not issued after a hearing as otherwise required
by this chapter, interim orders so issued shall be subject to
judicial review pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil
Procedure. The relief that may be ordered shall be limited to a stay
of the interim order. Interim orders issued pursuant to this section
are final interim orders and, if not dissolved pursuant to
subdivision (c) or (f), may only be challenged administratively at
the hearing on the accusation.
(i) The interim order provided for by this section shall be:
(1) In addition to, and not a limitation on, the authority to seek
injunctive relief provided for in the Business and Professions Code.
(2) A limitation on the emergency decision procedure provided in
Article 13 (commencing with Section 11460.10) of Chapter 4.5.