ANDRES BUSTILLO, M.D., APPELLANT,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, BOARD OF MEDICINE, APPELLEE
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Dr. Bustillo appeals a disciplinary order by the Board of Medicine for violating a consent decree requiring random drug testing. The court affirmed the Board's finding that the doctor materially violated the consent order by refusing to submit to unannounced testing and instead attempting to reschedule the tests.
The Board correctly concluded that Dr. Bustillo materially violated the consent decree. Random testing means testing at the agency's chosen time and place, not a matter for negotiation. The provision requiring the doctor to appear and answer questions does not forbid invocation of the Fifth Amendment, and invoking it would not itself constitute a violation.
[1] A requirement for random testing under a consent decree means that the testing will be performed at the time and place of the agency's choosing and is not a matter of neg…
[2] Refusal to provide a urine sample when requested by an agency investigator for random testing constitutes a material violation of a consent decree requiring such testing.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The requirement for random testing meant that the testing would be performed at the time and place of the agency's choosing and was not a matter of negotiation.”
Establishes the court's interpretation of 'random' testing under the consent decree—the agency has sole discretion over timing and location
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceIn 1987, Dr. Bustillo entered a consent decree requiring abstinence from controlled substances and submission to random urine/blood testing for two ye…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
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COPE, Judge.
Andres Bustillo appeals a disciplinary order by the Board of Medicine. We affirm.
In 1987 Dr. Bustillo entered into a consent decree which settled a prior action brought by the Department of Professional Regulation. The consent decree required that Bustillo would abstain from any consumption of controlled substances and that, for a period of two years, Bustillo would submit voluntarily to random urine and/or blood testing as prescribed by the agency. Dr. Bustillo conceded below that random meant “any place, any time.”
Three months after the consent decree was entered, a Department investigator arrived unannounced at Dr. Bustillo’s office to collect a urine sample. The hearing officer found that the doctor was in the office and knew the purpose of the visit, but refused to see the investigator. The doctor’s secretary instead advised the investigator to make an appointment the following day. In November the investigator again attempted to collect a sample and was referred to Bustillo’s attorney. The investigator demanded that the sample be provided by the end of the work day. It was never provided.
The Department commenced proceedings against the doctor’s license. The hearing officer found that the samples had not been provided when required. He concluded, however, that in each instance the doctor’s reaction had been reasonable, first, in October, in attempting to schedule an appointment for the following day, and second, in November, by offering to give the sample after the end of the work day but beyond the deadline set by the Department investigator. The hearing officer rendered a con- elusion of law that the doctor had substantially complied with the terms of the consent order. On review of the hearing officer’s recommended order, the Board of Medicine accepted the hearing officer’s findings of fact but rejected the conclusion of law. The Board instead concluded that Dr. Bustillo had violated the consent decree. The Board then entered its final order accordingly.
We entirely agree with the Board’s analysis. The requirement for random testing meant that the testing would be performed at the time and place of the agency’s choosing and was not a matter of negotiation. The Board was correct in concluding that there had been a material violation of the consent order and in rejecting the hearing officer’s conclusion of law to the contrary. See, e.g., Public Employee Relations Comm’n v. Dade County Police Benevolent Ass’n, 467 So. 2d 987 (Fla.1985); MacPherson v. School Board, 505 So. 2d 682, 683 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987); DeLaurier v. School Board, 443 So. 2d 1067 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984).
Dr. Bustillo also objects to a provision in the final order which states:
Respondent shall appear before the Board at their first meeting after rendition of this Order, and semi-annually thereafter during the term of this Order and at such other times as directed by the Board. At these appearances, Respondent shall answer questions, under oath, as posed to him by Board members, counsel for the Board, and counsel for Petitioner.[*]
(Emphasis added). Dr. Bustillo contends that, as written, the order forbids him from invoking the fifth amendment, and subjects him to discipline if he does so. The agency indicated at oral argument that it does not so construe that paragraph of the order, and that the invocation of the fifth amendment would not, in and of itself, violate that paragraph of the order. Affirmed.
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Fortune Ins. Co. v. Dep't OF Ins., 664 So. 2d 312 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995)…clothed with a presumption of correctness and thus, an agency is free to substitute its own conclusions of law for those of the hearing officer. Harloff v. City of Sarasota, 575 So. 2d 1324 [*315] (Fla. 2d DCA 1991); Bustillo v. Dep’t of Prof. Reg., 561 So. 2d 610 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1990). As above noted, the Department has interpreted section 627.062(2)(g) as authorizing its review and disapproval of an insurer’s rate as excessive at any time, subject only to the limitation that after a rate has been given final…
Authorities Cited
- Pub. Emps. Relations Comm'n v. Dade Cnty. Police Benevolent Ass'n, 467 So. 2d 987 (Fla. 1985)
- MacPHERSON v. Sch. Bd. OF Monroe Cnty., 505 So. 2d 682 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987)
- DeLAURIER v. Sch. Bd. OF Dade Cnty., 443 So. 2d 1067 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984)