Medical licensure and discipline legislative commission meets next week

10/6/2015

News

STATE HOUSE – A newly created special legislative commission that will study and review current rules and regulations pertaining to the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline will hold its first meeting next on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 3 p.m. in Room 101 of the State House.

The commission was formed due to legislation, 2015-H 5500A, sponsored by Rep. Michael W. Chippendale. The legislation created a nine member special legislative study commission whose purpose is to study and analyze the rules and regulations pertaining to the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and to assess the fairness of the application of the rules and regulations regarding the discipline of any medical professional in the practice of medicine, surgery, dentistry, psychiatric medicine and counseling and all other professionals who are under the purview of the Board.

“Quality patient care is an issue that is of great importance to everyone - especially good doctors,” Representative Chippendale states. “Just as important is how our state treats the doctors responsible for the delivery of that care and it was brought to my attention late last year that there seems to have been a breakdown in the process of how fairly doctors are treated whenever a disciplinary or license-related issue arises,” continues Rep. Chippendale.

“It would be devastating to Rhode Islanders in need of high quality medical care if our state inadvertently developed a reputation for being unjustly zealous in the application of our disciplinary standards which could drive good doctors out of, or keep good doctors from coming to our state to practice,” concluded Rep. Chippendale.

The nine member commission will consist of:

·         Rep. Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Coventry, Glocester)
·         Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence)
·         Rep. Thomas Winfield ((D-Dist. 55, Smithfield, Glocester)
·         Rep. Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly)
·         Rep. Patricia L. Morgan (R-Dist. 26, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick)
·         Dr. Patricia Recupero, M.D., President of Butler Hospital
·         Dr. Debbie McInteer, M.D., Psychiatrist
·         Ms. Elizabeth Galligan, public member
·         Mr. Dean Lees, public member

The commission will also be meeting on Wednesday, November 4 at 3 p.m. and Wednesday, December 16 at 3 p.m.

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For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124

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In 1636, Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, established the first working model of Democracy after being banished from Massachusetts for his “extreme views” concerning freedom of speech and religion. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams publicly acknowledged Williams as the originator of these concepts, along with the freedom of public assembly, in the First Amendment in the United States Constitution. Today, Rhode Island House Republicans uphold the liberties designed by our Founders and preserved in our Constitution, and are the primary legislative body promoting lean government, fighting for lower taxes, and advocating for initiatives and policies that improve the economy and in turn, the lives of Rhode Islanders. As members of a part-time assembly, we are small business owners, retired educators, community activists, lawyers, farmers, military service veterans, volunteers, former local officials, retired social workers, coaches, musicians, churchgoers and board directors -- bringing these community engagement and professional experiences to our work, on your behalf, at the Rhode Island State House.