McRae v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio

[Cite as McRae v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio, 2014-Ohio-667.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
Sharon L. McRae, M.D., :
Appellant-Appellant, : No. 13AP-526
(C.P.C. No. 13CV-834)
v. :
(REGULAR CALENDAR)
State Medical Board of Ohio, :
Appellee-Appellee. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on February 25, 2014
Whonsetler & Johnson, PLLC, and Christopher Piekarski, for
appellant.
Michael DeWine, Attorney General, Melinda R. Snyder and
Katherine J. Bockbrader, for appellee.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
O'GRADY, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, Sharon L. McRae, M.D., appeals from a judgment of the Franklin
County Court of Common Pleas affirming the order of appellee, the State Medical Board
of Ohio (the "Board"), finding her in violation of R.C. 4731.22(B)(19)1 and placing her on
probation. For the following reasons, we affirm.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 2} Appellant has a certificate to practice medicine and perform surgery in
Ohio. In March 2012, the Board notified appellant it had reason to believe she was in
1 We note the first page of the common pleas court's Decision and Entry affirming the Board's order
mistakenly refers to "R.C. 4731.11(B)(19)."
No. 13AP-526 2
violation of R.C. 4731.22(B)(19) and was unable to practice medicine according to
acceptable and prevailing standards of care by reason of mental illness. The Board
ordered her to undergo a psychiatric evaluation by Stephen Noffsinger, M.D. After the
evaluation, Dr. Noffsinger opined appellant had a mental illness that rendered her unable
to practice. The Board's Secretary and Supervising Member found she violated R.C.
4731.22(B)(19), and the Board summarily suspended her certificate to practice. Appellant
requested a hearing on the matter. Although the hearing examiner issued a lengthy
summary of the evidence adduced at this hearing, we will only highlight some of the
evidence here.
{¶ 3} Appellant testified she has worked in the medical field since age 17. She
began medical school in 2002 at age 39. She graduated in 2006, overcoming several
stressful events, such as the death of family members and a period of homelessness. After
completing her residency, appellant worked for Qualified Emergency Specialists ("QESI")
in Cincinnati, Ohio, from July 2009 to July 2010. Appellant and QESI's administration
had disagreements because, according to appellant, QESI wanted her to engage in
unethical and possibly unlawful prescribing practices to boost patient satisfaction scores.
She also believed QESI owed her money under their contract. In June 2010, a few days
after appellant learned QESI planned to replace her, she experienced chest pain and was
admitted to Deaconess Hospital ("Deaconess"). A doctor performed a psychiatric consult
and diagnosed her with an acute stress reaction.
{¶ 4} After leaving QESI, appellant worked as a locum tenens (temporary
substitute) emergency room physician at various locations in Ohio, Kentucky, and
Michigan. Appellant testified about the difficult conditions she faced during her work at
Lake West Hospital ("Lake West") in Ohio between December 28, 2010 and January 2,
2011. She worked 83.5 hours during that time frame in an understaffed emergency room.
Her scheduled 12 hour shift on January 1 and 2, 2011, turned into an over 20-hour shift.
She was sleep deprived and subsisted on snack foods and energy drinks. According to
appellant, hospital staff questioned or disregarded her orders, and she became
particularly upset when someone transferred a child who was under her care without her
knowledge.
No. 13AP-526 3
{¶ 5} Appellant eventually left Lake West around 1:30 p.m. on January 2, 2011.
She testified that while driving home, she called the regional medical director but began to
vomit and have leg cramps. Appellant pulled over, and the director had a police officer
check on her. She remained parked until around 5:30 p.m., talking on the phone.
According to appellant, she then tried to drive to her hotel but began to suffer massive
body cramps and called 911. During the 911 call, appellant became convinced she was
trapped on train tracks with a train rushing toward her. However, the 911 operator tried
to assure appellant the lights she saw actually belonged to a vehicle of someone en route
to assist her. EMS transported appellant to MetroHealth Medical Center ("MetroHealth")
where she was admitted and kept overnight in the psychiatric unit.
{¶ 6} EMS records indicate appellant called 911 because she became too upset to
drive. The January 4, 2011 discharge notes from MetroHealth indicate appellant claimed
she had difficulty driving more than 10 m.p.h. and drove around for 6 hours before she
called for help. The notes also indicate her speech was rambling, and she was "agitated
and tangential." (R. 17, Record of Proceedings, 31.) Appellant was diagnosed with an
acute adjustment disorder due to job-related stress, sleep deprivation, and dehydration,
and her symptoms resolved after she got adequate rest.
{¶ 7} On January 5, 2011, appellant went to the emergency room at Hillcrest
Hospital ("Hillcrest") complaining of chest pains. Then, on January 7, 2011, she went to
MetroHealth for a follow-up appointment with a psychiatrist. MetroHealth admitted her
to its psychiatric unit for inpatient treatment that day and discharged her on January 10,
2011. The discharge notes indicate the admission was due to appellant's inability to care
for herself. However, the notes also indicate she initially agreed to the admission.
According to the notes, appellant reported an inability to sleep after her January 4
discharge and concentration problems. She wanted to be in the hospital to start sleep
medication. The notes indicate appellant was irritable and labile, accused "every staff
member of not listening to her," gave inconsistent histories, and expressed frustration
over not being discharged after 24 hours. (Record of Proceedings, 40.) She was diagnosed
with a brief psychotic reaction. Appellant followed up with another doctor around one
week later who did not recommend any further treatment.
No. 13AP-526 4
{¶ 8} Appellant testified she agreed to a one-day admission on January 7 so a
doctor who treated her on January 2 would not report her to the Board "for altered mental
status." (Tr. Vol. I, 132.) The admission lasted longer due to a "miscommunication." (Tr.
Vol I, 134.) One of appellant's experts suggested the symptoms she exhibited during the
second admission were due to stress over what happened at Lake West and the fact she
became more distressed when MetroHealth refused to let her leave and she learned
insurance would not pay for the extended hospital stay.
{¶ 9} Dr. Noffsinger testified he diagnosed appellant with an episodic psychotic
disorder not otherwise specified. He opined that she had two, possibly three psychotic
episodes as evidenced by the Deaconess admission and two MetroHealth admissions. Dr.
Noffsinger testified he thought stress and dehydration played a role in the events of
January 2011, but appellant had an abnormal response to frequently encountered
stressors. He also diagnosed appellant with an anxiety disorder not otherwise specified.
He found she had the "psychopathology of a personality style that has led to interpersonal
conflict, decompensation under stress, occupational/relationship dysfunction, disruptive
behavior, and multiple complaints by patients and colleagues." (Record of Proceedings,
1535.) Dr. Noffsinger opined she was unable to practice medicine according to acceptable
and prevailing standards of care. In contrast, appellant had two experts testify she did not
suffer from a mental illness.
{¶ 10} The hearing examiner's report and recommendation proposed brief
"FINDINGS OF FACT," which are nearly identical to statements that appear in the
Board's pre-hearing notice of summary suspension:
1. By letter dated March 22, 2012, the Board notified Sharon
Leilani McRae, M.D., of its determination that it had reason to
believe that Dr. McRae was in violation of Section
4731.22(B)(19), Ohio Revised Code, and ordered her to
undergo a psychiatric examination to determine if she was in
violation of Section 4731.22(B)(19), Ohio Revised Code. The
Board's determination was based upon one or more of the
reasons outlined in the letter, which included Dr. McRae's
history of psychiatric admissions at MetroHealth Medical
Center in January 2012 [sic], concerns about her bedside
manner with patients and interaction with coworkers, and her
disclosure to Board staff that she had offered a recording to
CNN for a story on medical abuse and that she was
No. 13AP-526 5
considering a lawsuit against MetroHealth Hospital on
various charges including false imprisonment.
2. By letter dated June 6, 2012, from Stephen G. Noffsinger,
M.D., the Board was notified that following the Board-ordered
evaluation conducted on or about April 18, 2012, Dr. McRae
was determined to be have [sic] the diagnoses of Anxiety
Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, and Psychotic Disorder,
Not Otherwise Specified, resulting in an inability to practice
according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care. It
was further determined that Dr. McRae's mental disorders
and other psychopathology are amenable to treatment.
3. The Board has not received information that Dr. McRae has
commenced psychiatric treatment.
(Record of Proceedings, 53.)
{¶ 11} The hearing examiner proposed the following "CONCLUSION OF LAW":
The acts, conduct, and/or omissions of Sharon Leilani McRae,
M.D., as set forth in the Findings of Fact, individually and/or
collectively constitute "[i]nability to practice according to
acceptable and prevailing standards of care by reason of
mental illness or physical illness, including, but not limited to,
physical deterioration that adversely affects cognitive, motor,
or perceptive skills," as that clause is used in Section
4731.22(B)(19), Ohio Revised Code.
(Record of Proceedings, 54.)
{¶ 12} Then the hearing examiner set forth a "Rationale for Proposed Order":
This is a close case, as the finding of impairment ultimately
relies upon the diagnosis of "psychotic disorder." Dr. McRae's
experts were persuasive in their testimony about Dr. McRae
not falling within that diagnosis, but rather suffering from
exhaustion and dehydration while reacting to a very stressful
situation. Dr. Noffsinger, however, was also a credible and
persuasive expert and his report and testimony support that
conclusion that the extraordinary events of early January
2012 [sic] are beyond the case of someone who just needed a
square meal and good night's sleep. While those factors might
well explain the first MetroHealth stay, the second one
occurred after Dr. McRae had had a chance to regroup. The
Hearing Examiner further finds Dr. Noffsinger's outpatient
treatment recommendation appropriate, as this indeed seems
to be an episodic disorder that is amenable to treatment and
hopefully will not disrupt Dr. McRae's life again.
No. 13AP-526 6
(Record of Proceedings, 54.) The hearing examiner recommended the Board indefinitely
suspend appellant's certificate to practice medicine and surgery in Ohio.
{¶ 13} Appellant filed objections to the hearing examiner's report and
recommendation. The Board incorporated the examiner's report into its order with
certain modifications. The Board corrected the date of the hospital admission in the
examiner's first finding of fact to state January 2011 instead of January 2012.2 The Board
amended the second finding of fact to include "all expert opinions," and stated:
By letter dated June 6, 2012, from Stephen G. Noffsinger,
M.D., the Board was notified that following the Board-
ordered evaluation conducted on or about April 18, 2012,
Dr. McRae was determined to be have [sic] the diagnoses
of Anxiety Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, and
Psychotic Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, resulting in an
inability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing
standards of care. Dr. Noffsinger further determined that Dr.
McRae's mental disorders and other psychopathology are
amenable to treatment.
In her defense, Dr. McRae presented the testimony of two
psychiatrists: Samuel L. Bradshaw Jr., M.D., and William S.
Logan, M.D. Dr. Bradshaw is a board-certified psychiatrist
who served as the Chief of Psychiatry at the Comery-O'Neil
VA Medical Center for 20 years. Dr. Bradshaw testified that,
after reviewing records and examining Dr. McRae, he saw
no evidence that Dr. McRae suffers from a mental
disturbance. Dr. Bradshaw further opined that Dr. McRae
does not have any psychiatric disorder that affects her medical
practice.
Dr. Logan is board-certified in psychiatry and forensic
psychiatry and has performed many physician evaluations
for the medical boards of Kansas and Missouri. Dr. Logan
reviewed Dr. McRae's records and examined her. He opined
that in January 2011 Dr. McRae had probably suffered from
dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance, and sleep deprivation.
Dr. Logan noted that the diagnosis at the time was either an
acute stress reaction or brief reactive psychosis, but opined
that there were actually no symptoms of psychosis. Dr. Logan
further opined that Dr. McRae did not suffer from anxiety
disorder.
2The examiner's report incorrectly refers to January 2012 instead of January 2011 in other places not
mentioned by the Board.
No. 13AP-526 7
(Record of Proceedings, 90.) Instead of suspending appellant's certification, the Board
placed her on probation subject to various terms for a period of at least two years.
{¶ 14} Appellant filed an appeal from the Board's order with the Franklin County
Court of Common Pleas ("common pleas court"). The court affirmed the Board's order.
II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶ 15} Appellant appeals and presents this court with three assignments of error
for our review:
First Assignment of Error
The Decision by the Court of Common Pleas Judge affirming
the State Medical Board of Ohio's Order was an abuse of
discretion because the Judge mischaracterizes or
misinterprets the nature of Appellant's arguments; failing to
address the crucial arguments advanced for why the Board's
Order was unsupported by reliable, probative and substantial
evidence
Second Assignment of Error
The Decision by the Court of Common Pleas Judge affirming
the State Medical Board of Ohio's Order was an abuse of
discretion because the Judge unreasonably and improperly
mischaracterizes the evidence in a manner that unfairly places
Dr. McRae's credibility in a negative light.
Third Assignment of Error
Dr. McRae was denied due process by the Board because she
did not receive a fair and impartial hearing.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶ 16} " 'In an administrative appeal pursuant to R.C. 119.12, the [common pleas]
court reviews an order to determine whether it is supported by reliable, probative, and
substantial evidence, and is in accordance with the law.' " Levine v. State Med. Bd. of
Ohio, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-962, 2011-Ohio-3653, ¶ 12, quoting Schechter v. Ohio State
Med. Bd., 10th Dist. No. 04AP-1115, 2005-Ohio-4062, ¶ 55. According to the Supreme
Court of Ohio:
(1) "Reliable" evidence is dependable; that is, it can be
confidently trusted. In order to be reliable, there must be a
No. 13AP-526 8
reasonable probability that the evidence is true. (2)
"Probative" evidence is evidence that tends to prove the issue
in question; it must be relevant in determining the issue. (3)
"Substantial" evidence is evidence with some weight; it must
have importance and value.
(Footnotes deleted.) Our Place, Inc. v. Ohio Liquor Control Comm., 63 Ohio St.3d 570,
571 (1992).
{¶ 17} The common pleas court's " 'review of the administrative record is neither a
trial de novo nor an appeal on questions of law only, but a hybrid review in which the
court "must appraise all the evidence as to the credibility of the witnesses, the probative
character of the evidence, and the weight thereof." ' " Akron v. Ohio Dept. of Ins., 10th
Dist. No. 13AP-473, 2014-Ohio-96, ¶ 19, quoting Lies v. Ohio Veterinary Med. Bd., 2 Ohio
App.3d 204, 207 (1st Dist.1981), quoting Andrews v. Bd. of Liquor Control, 164 Ohio St.
275, 280 (1955). The court "must give due deference to the administrative determination
of conflicting testimony, including the resolution of credibility conflicts." ATS Inst. of
Tech. v. Ohio Bd. of Nursing, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-385, 2012-Ohio-6030, ¶ 29, citing
Crumpler v. State Bd. of Edn., 71 Ohio App.3d 526, 528 (10th Dist.1991). The court must
defer to the agency's findings of fact unless they are " 'internally inconsistent, impeached
by evidence of a prior inconsistent statement, rest upon improper inferences, or are
otherwise unsupportable.' " Kimbro v. Ohio Dept. of Adm. Servs., 10th Dist. No. 12AP-
1053, 2013-Ohio-2519, ¶ 7, quoting Ohio Historical Soc. v. State Emp. Relations Bd., 66
Ohio St.3d 466, 471 (1993). However, the common pleas court reviews legal questions de
novo. Akron at ¶ 19, citing Ohio Historical Soc. at 471.
{¶ 18} Our review is more limited than that of the common pleas court. Smith v.
State Med. Bd. of Ohio, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-234, 2012-Ohio-4423, ¶ 13. "In reviewing the
court of common pleas' determination that the [B]oard's order was supported by reliable,
probative, and substantial evidence, this court's role is limited to determining whether the
court of common pleas abused its discretion." Id., citing Roy v. Ohio State Med. Bd., 80
Ohio App.3d 675, 680 (10th Dist.1992). "An abuse of discretion occurs when a decision is
unconscionable, unreasonable, or arbitrary." Weiss v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio, 1oth Dist.
No. 13AP-281, 2013-Ohio-4215, ¶ 15, citing State ex rel. Nese v. State Teachers
Retirement Bd. of Ohio, 136 Ohio St.3d 103, 2013-Ohio-1777, ¶ 25. On the question of
No. 13AP-526 9
whether the Board's order was in accordance with the law, our review is plenary. Id.,citing Univ. Hosp., Univ. of Cincinnati College of Med. v. State Emp. Relations Bd., 63
Ohio St.3d 339, 343 (1992).
IV. DISCUSSION
{¶ 19} Under the first assignment of error, appellant contends the common pleas
court abused its discretion because it mischaracterized or misinterpreted several of her
arguments as to how the evidence does not support the Board's order and thus failed to
adequately address her concerns.
{¶ 20} According to appellant, at the common pleas level she complained the
hearing examiner only made three findings of fact nearly identical to statements in the
pre-hearing notice of summary suspension.3 She also argued the "rationale" section of the
hearing examiner's report, which the Board adopted, was vague and failed to properly
discuss or account for evidence. Appellant claimed this was not a close case as she
presented substantial evidence she did not have a mental illness, including testimony
from two experts. She also argued the hearing examiner misunderstood or ignored her
evidence regarding her second MetroHealth admission. Specifically, she complained the
hearing examiner thought she blamed this admission on dehydration and exhaustion
when she did not. Instead, appellant testified she initially agreed to the admission to
avoid being reported to the Board. Her evidence suggested any symptoms she exhibited
during the admission were due to stress, caused, in part, by the unjustified change from a
voluntary to involuntary admission. Thus, she argued the hearing examiner's rationale
was flawed and failed to articulate a valid reason for rejecting her experts' opinions.
{¶ 21} We do not believe the hearing examiner misunderstood or disregarded
appellant's evidence regarding the second admission. The hearing examiner stated "[a]ll
exhibits and the transcript, even if not specifically mentioned, were thoroughly reviewed
and considered by the Hearing Examiner prior to preparing this Report and
Recommendation." (Record of Proceedings, 31.) True, the hearing examiner's rationale
does not recite all of appellant's evidence concerning the second MetroHealth admission.
Nonetheless, it is apparent the examiner and Board found appellant and her experts failed
3Under the first assignment of error, appellant also discusses her arguments about the level of deference the
examiner gave to the notice and the level of deference or bias the Board had toward Dr. Noffsinger. We will
address those issues in the context of her due process arguments in the third assignment of error.
No. 13AP-526 10
to provide a more persuasive explanation for the "extraordinary events" of January 2011
than Dr. Noffsinger. (Record of Proceedings, 54.) Thus, the critical aspect of the Board's
order is its reliance on Dr. Noffsinger's opinion that appellant was unable to practice due
to mental illness. The common pleas court correctly focused on whether this opinion
constituted reliable, probative, and substantial evidence.
{¶ 22} Appellant contends the common pleas court abused its discretion when it
found Dr. Noffsinger's opinion constituted reliable, probative, and substantial evidence.
Appellant argues she proved Dr. Noffsinger "ignored completely or failed to give proper
weight to critical evidence" and made improper inferences. (Appellant's brief, 30.) She
claims the common pleas court again misinterpreted or mischaracterized her arguments.
{¶ 23} Regarding Dr. Noffsinger's psychopathology opinion, appellant claims the
court erroneously stated she "asserted that had Dr. Noffsinger reviewed her letters of
recommendation and * * * credentialing letters, his opinions would have changed."
(R. 31, Decision and Entry, 10.) Appellant claims this was not her argument. She did not
assert the letters would have changed Dr. Noffsinger's opinion, but, rather, complained he
erred by not at least considering the letters before rendering an opinion. She also
complained Dr. Noffsinger formed his opinion based on complaints from her patients and
co-workers and assumed the complaints were true without investigation. In addition,
appellant takes issue with the common pleas court's statement that her psychopathology
arguments were a "moot point" as Dr. Noffsinger testified the psychotic disorder alone
made her unable to practice. (Decision and Entry, 10.) Appellant argues her alleged
psychopathology and psychosis are interrelated.
{¶ 24} Appellant did not provide a citation to the administrative record to support
her interrelationship argument. In any event, the common pleas court logically inferred
appellant would only complain about Dr. Noffsinger's failure to consider letters if they
would have impacted his opinion. As the court observed, there was no testimony Dr.
Noffsinger violated the standard of care for a forensic psychiatrist by considering the
complaints but not the letters, and he reasonably suggested it was unlikely multiple
people made completely unjustified complaints about appellant under different
circumstances.
No. 13AP-526 11
{¶ 25} With regard to the anxiety disorder diagnosis, appellant maintains she
correctly argued Dr. Noffsinger based this diagnosis on her alleged self-report of being a
"somewhat high strung person who talked rapidly, and at times, loudly" and her July
2010 admission to Deaconess. (Appellant's brief, 35.) She argued it was improper to base
a diagnosis on a single hospitalization and a vague self-description she did not recall
giving. Appellant complains the common pleas court mistakenly indicated Dr.
Noffsinger's diagnosis relied on medical records from sources in addition to Deaconess.
She takes issue with the court's suggestion that her anxiety disorder arguments were moot
for the same reason the court found her psychopathology arguments were. But, again,
appellant cites nothing in the record to support her claim about the interrelationship of
Dr. Noffsinger's diagnoses. Even if the court incorrectly suggested Dr. Noffsinger relied
on more records than he did, the common pleas court correctly observed the fact that
appellant and her experts interpret the evidence differently than Dr. Noffsinger does not
prove his diagnosis rested on improper inferences or was otherwise unsupportable.
{¶ 26} Next, appellant contends the common pleas court failed to address her
arguments about the episodic psychotic disorder diagnosis. At the common pleas level,
she complained Dr. Noffsinger improperly opined she exhibited the beginnings of
psychotic symptoms between December 28, 2010 and January 2, 2011. He assumed her
complaints about the dysfunction of the Lake West emergency department evidenced
delusional thinking even though he admitted her version of events could be true.
Appellant also complains Dr. Noffsinger relied heavily on the MetroHealth records to
formulate the psychotic disorder diagnosis. But her experts testified those records
contained unsupported conclusions, and one of her experts testified if she did have an
episodic mental illness triggered by stress, he would anticipate more evidence of it than an
isolated episode.
{¶ 27} The common pleas court correctly found appellant failed to show the
diagnosis rested on improper inferences or was otherwise unsupportable. Dr. Noffsinger
testified even if appellant's complaints about the emergency department were true, it
would not change his diagnosis. The Board did not err in relying on Dr. Noffsinger's
opinion simply because appellant's experts disagreed with his interpretation of the
medical records. There were conflicting expert opinions, and the common pleas court
No. 13AP-526 12
properly deferred to the Board's resolution of the battle of the experts. The fact that
appellant had two expert witnesses does not mean she is entitled to prevail. As the lower
court noted, "the quantity of the evidence does not always equate to quality." (Decision
and Entry, 15.)
{¶ 28} For the foregoing reasons, we overrule the first assignment of error.
{¶ 29} Under her second assignment of error, appellant contends the common
pleas court abused its discretion because it mischaracterized evidence in a way that placed
her credibility in a negative light.
{¶ 30} In its decision, the common pleas court made the following statements:
The simple assertion that the evidence was "overwhelming"
against the Board's decision is nothing more than an assertion
that the evidence had to be viewed through the Appellant's
prism. Furthermore, the quantity of the evidence does not
always equate to quality. The Hearing Officer had the best
opportunity to review the credibility of the experts and the
Appellant. During the hearing the Hearing Officer heard the
following from or about the Appellant:
1) The Appellant had 4 pages of notes contesting Dr.
Noffsinger's report;
2) Lied about recording Dr. Noffsinger during her interview;
3) Denied the histories taken by the other doctors when not
beneficial to her;
4) When read the histories from the various providers she
would respond "You read it correctly, but the information is
incorrect."
5) Denys doctors being present when the records show that
same doctors had notes;
6) Only bad things happen after she complained;
7) Claimed that her old Cincinnati employer falsified letters;
8) Complaints concerning her conduct always come after she
complains about others;
9) Everyone else was there to make money - asserting that
she was only one looking out for the patients; and,
No. 13AP-526 13
10) The reason she felt she was before the Board was because
she threatened to sue her prior employer;
The Hearing Officer had the opportunity to hear the evidence
and judge the Appellant's credibility. This Court has not been
presented with any evidence that would require it to interpose
its judgment for that of the Hearing Officer or Board.
(Decision and Entry, 15.)
{¶ 31} Appellant argues the common pleas court improperly "presented a
justification for the hearing examiner to doubt [her] credibility and not accept her version
of the facts" when the hearing examiner's report and Board's order did not discuss the
issue at all. (Appellant's brief, 49.) She contends, "[t]he purpose of the [common pleas
court's] review on appeal was to determine if the Board's Order was supported, not to
create justifications for the Order," and by creating the list set forth above, appellant
argues the court "supplanted the judgment of the Hearing Officer." (Appellant's brief, 49;
Reply brief, 10.) Appellant complains the court incorrectly suggested she "was fabricating
or embellishing her testimony." (Appellant's brief, 41.) Specifically, she complains eight
of the ten items on the court's list "do not fit the evidence" and unfairly reflect on her
credibility. (Appellant's brief, 49.)
{¶ 32} Appellant misconstrues the common pleas court's decision. The court
suggests that, to the extent the hearing examiner and Board implicitly found appellant
lacked credibility, such a finding was supported by the evidence and possible inferences
that could be drawn from the evidence. The fact that appellant offered contrary evidence
on issues the court mentions, and disagrees with the fairness or breadth of certain
inferences the court listed, does not render the decision unreasonable, arbitrary or
unconscionable. The court's primary pointthat evidence exists that would support a
finding that appellant lacked credibilityis accurate. For instance, even though appellant
testified about inaccuracies in her medical records, as Dr. Noffsinger explained, those
contemporaneous accounts of events made by people with no discernable reason to lie
were likely more accurate than the recollections appellant had of those same events over a
year later during a proceeding that could affect her ability to practice medicine.
{¶ 33} Accordingly, we overrule the second assignment of error.
No. 13AP-526 14
{¶ 34} Under her third assignment of error, appellant contends the Board's
decision was not in accordance with law because the Board violated her due process rights
when it failed to provide her with a fair and impartial hearing.
{¶ 35} "Both the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and
Section 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution require that administrative proceedings
comport with due process." Richmond v. Ohio Bd. of Nursing, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-328,
2013-Ohio-110, ¶ 10, citing Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976), and Doyle v. Ohio
Bur. of Motor Vehicles, 51 Ohio St.3d 46 (1990). "Pursuant to due process, governmental
agencies must provide constitutionally adequate procedures before depriving individuals
of their protected liberty or property interests." Natoli v. Ohio State Dental Bd., 177 Ohio
App.3d 645, 2008-Ohio-4068, ¶ 18 (10th Dist.), citing Mathews at 332, and Cleveland
Bd. of Edn. v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 541 (1985). Appellant has a protected property
interest in her certificate to practice medicine and surgery. See Natoli at ¶ 19, citing Haj-
Hamed v. State Med. Bd., 10th Dist. No. 06AP-351, 2007-Ohio-2521, ¶ 53.
{¶ 36} A " 'fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity to be heard
"at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner." ' " Natoli at ¶ 18, quoting Mathews
at 333, quoting Armstrong v. Manzo, 380 U.S. 545, 552 (1965). "At its core, due process
insists upon fundamental fairness, and the requirement to conduct a hearing implies that
a fair hearing must occur." Id., citing Lassiter v. Dept. of Social Servs., 452 U.S. 18, 24
(1981), citing Clayman v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio, 133 Ohio App.3d 122, 127 (10th
Dist.1999). But, above all, " ' "[d]ue process is flexible and calls for such procedural
protections as the particular situation demands." ' " Id., quoting Mathews at 334, quoting
Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 481 (1972). The question of whether the due process
requirements have been satisfied presents a legal question we review de novo. See Slorp
v. Dept. of Adm. Servs., 10th Dist. No. 97APE08-1136 (Apr. 30, 1998); Judd v. Meszaroz,
10th Dist. No. 10AP-1189, 2011-Ohio-4983, ¶ 19 ("Purely legal questions are subject to de
novo review.").
{¶ 37} Appellant argues she was denied a fair hearing because the hearing
examiner excluded from evidence the curriculum vitae ("CV") and report of her third
psychiatric expert, Gilbert R. Parks, M.D. At the hearing, Dr. Noffsinger testified without
objection regarding his concerns about Dr. Parks' credentials and report. Then, instead of
No. 13AP-526 15
having Dr. Parks testify, appellant tried to testify about what Dr. Parks said about her
mental status. The state objected because Dr. Parks "was not presented as an expert," and
the state had no opportunity for cross-examination. (Tr. Vol. II, 685.) In response,
appellant asked the common pleas court to admit Dr. Parks' CV and expert report into
evidence. She argued the documents were relevant and credible evidence, and the fact Dr.
Parks did not testify went to the weight of the evidence, not admissibility. Appellant also
argued it was fair to admit the documents because Dr. Noffsinger already criticized Dr.
Parks' report. The state again objected. The hearing examiner stated: "I understand
what you're saying, weight as opposed to admissibility. And normally I'd be amenable to
that. But given the fact that we have two other expert opinions already in the record, I
think given that, I'd defer to the State on this objection." (Tr. Vol. II, 686.) Appellant
proffered Dr. Parks' CV and report for the record.
{¶ 38} According to appellant, the fact that she already presented evidence from
two other experts "should have no bearing on the admissibility of Dr. Parks' CV and
report." (Appellant's brief, 53.) "Cumulative or not of other testimony, once Dr.
Noffsinger criticized Dr. Parks' report, it was unreasonable to not allow the [r]eport in as
evidence." (Appellant's brief, 55.) Appellant argues Dr. Parks' opinions are relevant and
Dr. Noffsinger's testimony "opened the door" for their admission. (Appellant's brief, 54.)
Appellant complains she was prejudiced by the exclusion of the report and CV because the
only evidence the Board had to "weigh the opinions and credibility" of Dr. Parks was Dr.
Noffsinger's testimony. (Appellant's brief, 54.) Additionally, appellant complains she had
the right to "not be pressured to call witnesses or present evidence because the [state]
presented testimony criticizing a [r]eport not in evidence." (Appellant's brief, 55.)
{¶ 39} Appellant did not object to Dr. Noffsinger's testimony about Dr. Parks. And
after the hearing examiner excluded Dr. Parks' CV and report from evidence, appellant
did not ask the examiner to strike Dr. Noffsinger's testimony about Dr. Parks from the
record. Also, appellant's objections to the hearing examiner's report and
recommendations make no mention of Dr. Parks or his CV and report. Nonetheless, the
common pleas court rejected appellant's due process argument with no mention of a plain
error standard of review. And like the common pleas court, we find no due process
violation occurred here. Appellant cites to no authority for her position that the exclusion
No. 13AP-526 16
of Dr. Parks' CV and report denied her a fair hearing. While the Ohio Rules of Evidence
are not controlling in these circumstances, the hearing examiner and Board could have
considered those rules and excluded the report and CV as inadmissible hearsay. Ohio
Adm.Code 4731-13-25(A); see Evid.R. 801. Moreover, we are not persuaded appellant
suffered any prejudice from the evidentiary exclusion. Appellant does not contest the
hearing examiner's suggestion that the report was cumulative of other admitted evidence,
and we fail to see how Dr. Noffsinger's criticism of a report not in evidence was relevant,
let alone prejudicial, particularly when the hearing examiner and Board made no mention
of Dr. Parks in their decisions.
{¶ 40} Next, appellant complains the Board placed her on probation "based upon
the same information it had prior to Dr. McRae's hearing and without giving due regard
to all the evidence presented by Dr. McRae in her defense at the hearing." (Appellant's
brief, 51.) Appellant suggests the hearing was a "mere formality." (Appellant's brief, 56.)
Because the hearing examiner's findings of fact were nearly identical to statements in the
notice of summary suspension, she argues the hearing examiner disregarded her evidence
and simply deferred to or "rubber-stamped" the Board's pre-hearing position.
{¶ 41} Appellant also argues the Board improperly deferred to or was biased
toward Dr. Noffsinger's opinion. She points to Dr. Noffsinger's testimony that he was an
agent of the Board in this matter. She also contends the arguments in the Board's briefs
for the common pleas court and this court demonstrate the Board's bias, and, because the
Board did not provide an in-depth analysis on why it found Dr. Noffsinger's opinion more
persuasive than her experts' opinions, appellant insinuates the Board ignored her
evidence about the flaws in Dr. Noffsinger's opinion. She complains her experts'
"combined credentials and experience are far greater than Dr. Noffsinger's." (Appellant's
brief, 62.)
{¶ 42} However, "a presumption of honesty and integrity on the part of an
administrative body exists, absent a showing to the contrary." Bharmota v. State Med.
Bd. of Ohio, 10th Dist. No. 93AP-630 (Dec. 7, 1993), citing Ohio State Bd. of Pharmacy v.
Poppe, 48 Ohio App.3d 222, 229 (12th Dist.1988). The fact that the hearing examiner's
findings of fact mirrored language in the suspension notice does not prove the examiner
disregarded appellant's evidence and merely "rubber-stamped" the Board's pre-hearing
No. 13AP-526 17
opinion. The hearing examiner's lengthy summary of the evidence suggests otherwise.
Moreover, the Board's changes to the findings of fact and decision to put appellant on
probation instead of suspending her, as the hearing examiner recommended, suggest the
Board did not simply ignore appellant's evidence either. Though Dr. Noffsinger testified
he was an agent of the Board, he indicated his role was to be fair, impartial, and consider
all relevant facts in evidence. Appellant cannot demonstrate bias simply because the
Board accepted Dr. Noffsinger's opinion. Nor does the brevity of the Board's analysis
prove bias. Additionally, we will disregard appellant's argument that statements in the
Board's appellate briefs prove bias as "arguments of counsel are not evidence." State ex
rel. Richards v. United Parcel Serv., 10th Dist. No. 02AP-533, 2003-Ohio-415, ¶ 7.
{¶ 43} Because appellant received a fair, impartial hearing, no due process
violation occurred. Accordingly, we overrule the third assignment of error.
V. CONCLUSION
{¶ 44} Having overruled appellant's three assignments of error, we affirm the
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Judgment affirmed.
SADLER, P.J., and DORRIAN, J., concur.