North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 90. Medicine and Allied Occupations § 90-685. Powers of the Committee

(1) Administer this Article.

(2) Issue interpretations of this Article.

(3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Article.

(4) Employ and fix the compensation of personnel that the Committee determines is necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Article and incur other expenses necessary to effectuate this Article.

(4a) Establish the standards for qualifications and fitness of applicants for licensure, provisional licensure, licensure renewal, and reciprocal licensure.

(5) Determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for licensure, provisional licensure, licensure renewal, and reciprocal licensure.

(6) Issue, renew, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses, order probation, issue reprimands, and carry out any other disciplinary actions authorized by this Article.

(7) Set fees for licensure, provisional licensure, reciprocal licensure, licensure renewal, and other services deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article.

(8) Establish continuing education requirements for licensees.

(9) Establish a code of ethics for licensees.

(10) Maintain a current list of all persons who have been licensed under this Article.

(11) Conduct investigations for the purpose of determining whether violations of this Article or grounds for disciplining licensees exist.

(12) Maintain a record of all proceedings and make available to all licensees and other concerned parties an annual report of all Committee action.

(13) Adopt a seal containing the name of the Committee for use on all official documents and reports issued by the Committee.

(14) Summon and issue subpoenas for the appearance of any witnesses deemed necessary to testify concerning any matter to be heard before or inquired into by the Committee.

(15) Order that any patient records, documents, or other material concerning any matter to be heard before or inquired into by the Committee shall be produced before the Committee or made available for inspection, notwithstanding any other provisions of law providing for the application of any physician-patient privilege with respect to such records, documents, or other material. The Committee shall withhold from public disclosure the identity of a patient, including information relating to dates and places of treatment, or any other information that would tend to identify the patient, unless the patient or the representative of the patient expressly consents to the disclosure.

(16) Order a licensee whose health and effectiveness have been significantly impaired by alcohol, drug addiction, or mental illness to attend and successfully complete a treatment program as deemed necessary and appropriate.