ORS 684.185 Peer review committees; duties; appointment; confidentiality of information

The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall appoint and form peer review committees. The peer review committee shall evaluate complaints against chiropractic physicians that are referred to it by the board and report to the board regarding those complaints.

The members of a peer review committee shall be appointed from among those in the profession who are in active practice with five or more years of practice representing various geographic areas in this state. Members shall be representative of affiliated and nonaffiliated chiropractic physicians and representative of various aspects of the practice of chiropractic. To be appointed a member must receive at least four votes from members of the state board. Members shall serve three-year terms. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms.

The peer review process shall be governed by rules of the state board adopted pursuant to ORS chapter 183. The state board shall provide appropriate training for members of peer review committees.

Members of a peer review committee acting pursuant to this section are agents of the state board and are subject to provisions of ORS 30.260 to 30.300.

Peer review shall not be used to replace independent medical examinations.

Upon receipt of a complaint under this chapter, the peer review committee shall conduct an investigation as described under ORS 676.165.

Any information provided to a peer review committee in the performance of its duties is confidential and shall not be subject to public disclosure or admissible as evidence in any judicial proceeding, except that as a part of a peer review report, this information may be disclosed to the state board and the person being reviewed who may then use the information in any disciplinary or court proceeding brought by the board. Peer review committee information that becomes part of the record of a board investigation into licensee or applicant conduct or part of a contested case proceeding, consent order or stipulated agreement involving licensee or applicant conduct is confidential as provided under ORS 676.175.

Any person who reports or provides information to a peer review committee in the performance of its duties and who provides information in good faith shall not be subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.