Arkansas Code
Subchapter 2 - Impaired Physician and Dentist Treatment Act
§ 17-80-203. Definitions

As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Board” means the Arkansas State Medical Board with reference to physicians and the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners with reference to dentists;
(2) “Dentists' health committee” means a dentist committee of the Arkansas State Dental Association composed of dentists who have expertise in the area of alcoholism, drug abuse, or mental illness, and that has been designated by the Arkansas State Dental Association to perform any and all of the activities set forth in subdivision (4) of this section;
(3) “Impaired” or “impairment” means the presence of the diseases of alcoholism, drug abuse, or mental illness;
(4) “Impaired dentist program” means the Arkansas State Dental Association-sponsored program for the detection, intervention, and monitoring of impaired dentists;
(5) “Impaired physician program” means the Arkansas Medical Society, Inc.-sponsored program for the detection, intervention, and monitoring of impaired physicians;
(6) “Physicians' health committee” means a physician committee of the Arkansas Medical Society, Inc. composed of physicians who have expertise in the area of alcoholism, drug abuse, or mental illness, and that has been designated by the Arkansas Medical Society, Inc. to perform any and all activities set forth in subdivision (5) of this section;
(7)
(A) “Professional incompetence” means the inability or failure of a physician or dentist to practice his or her respective professions with reasonable skill and safety.
(B) Impairment in and of itself shall not give rise to a presumption of professional incompetence; and

(8) “Treatment program” means a plan of care and rehabilitation services provided by those organizations and persons authorized to provide such services for impaired physicians and dentists taking part in the programs provided under this subchapter.

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