UPDATE: The bills have passed the Senate.
The Michigan Senate will vote Thursday on a bill to increase the internal oversight of the state’s medical board.
According to Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker’s newsletter, Senate Bills 575-578 require “more than one board member to review every allegation brought to the board, requires board members to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, revokes the licenses of health providers who are found guilty of criminal sexual conduct while acting in their profession, prohibits board members from testifying as expert witnesses in malpractice suits, and makes revisions to the law governing decisions of board disciplinary subcommittees.”
Sen. Schuitmaker is co-sponsoring the bill with Sen. Rick Jones, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Here is more information from the newsletter:
State Senators Tonya Schuitmaker and Rick Jones have introduced legislation to ensure that patient health and safety are put before personal relationships and professional gain by increasing oversight and transparency at the state’s boards of health professions. The legislation comes as a response to evidence that a former Board of Medicine chairman dismissed serious allegations against a Muskegon abortion provider without investigation and without disclosing their prior relationship.
In 2009, allegations were brought against Dr. Robert Alexander by another doctor who treated one of Alexander’s patients. Then-Chairman of the Board Dr. George Shade singlehandedly dismissed the allegations without investigating. In 2012, Dr. Alexander’s clinic in Muskegon was shut down for multiple health and safety violations. Further research showed that Dr. Alexander lost his license and served time in prison in the 1980s and 1990s. When he applied to have his license reinstated, Dr. Shade served as Alexander’s mentor.
Watchdog Wire has reported extensively on Dr. Alexander and Dr. Shade. Citizen Watchdog Gena Rinckey has followed this story for months and continues to investigate.
Back in August, she reported that Dr. Alexander was still employed at the government-funded Herman Kiefer Clininc in Detroit. Prior to this report, it was believed that he no longer worked there. Watchdog Wire is currently following up on a news tip regarding a possible new place of employment for Alexander.
The Senate vote on the bills is expected on Thursday, according to Derek Sova, an aide to Sen. Schuitmaker.
“They will likely pass on Thursday. Hopefully we can get them through the House and to the governor’s desk sooner than later,” Sova said. “Once these bills become law, patients will be safer and bad doctors will be held more accountable.”
Watchdog Wire will continue to follow the status of these bills. The full text of each can be found below: