Woodlief v. North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners

407 S.E.2d 596, 104 N.C. App. 52, 1991 N.C. App. LEXIS 970

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: September 3, 1991
• Docket: 909SC1126
• Status: Published

Opinion

EAGLES, Judge.

Dr. Woodlief brings forward eleven questions for review from his assignments of error. The first eight questions address the issue of whether the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the Board, affirmed by the trial judge, are supported by substantial evidence in view of the whole record as submitted. The other three assignments of error address the issue of whether the Board applied the correct standard of care. All twelve questions challenge the Board’s actions as being arbitrary and capricious. After careful review of the record, we disagree and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Judicial review of the decisions of administrative agencies is governed by the whole record test pursuant to General Statutes Chapter 150B, the Administrative Procedure Act. Upon reviewing an agency’s decision, a trial court may “reverse or modify the agency’s decision if the substantial rights of the petitioners may have been prejudiced because the agency’s findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are ... (5) Unsupported by substantial evidence ... in view of the entire record as submitted; or (6) Arbitrary or capricious.” G.S. 150B-51(b). The whole record test “properly takes into account the specialized expertise of the staff of an administrative agency. . . .” High Rock Lake Assoc. v. Environmental Management Comm’n, 51 N.C. App. 275, 279, 276 S.E.2d 472, 475 (1981). Accordingly, the whole record test requires that

“[i]f, after all of the record has been reviewed, substantial competent evidence is found which would support the agency ruling, the ruling must stand.” In this context substantial evidence has been held to mean “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Therefore, in reaching its decision, the reviewing court is prohibited from replacing the Agency’s findings of fact with its own judgment of how credible, or incredible, the testimony appears to them to be, so long as substantial evidence of those findings exist in the whole record.

Little v. Board of Dental Examiners, 64 N.C. App. 67, 69, 306 S.E.2d 534, 536 (1983) (citations omitted). Additionally, the whole record test does not allow the trial court “to replace the agency’s judgment when there are two reasonably conflicting views, although the court could have reached a different decision had the matter been before it de novo.” White v. N.C. State Board of Examiners of Practicing Psychologists, 97 N.C. App. 144, 153-54, 388 S.E.2d 148, 154, appeal dismissed and disc. rev. denied, 326 N.C. 601, 393 S.E.2d 891 (1990).

Dr. Woodlief contends that “the testimony of Dr. Minneman should be excluded as incompetent” and that the trial court erred in concluding that the Board’s decision was supported by substantial competent evidence. G.S. 150B-41(a) states that “the rules of evidence as applied in the trial division of the General Court of Justice shall be followed . . .” G.S. 8C-1, Rule 702 provides that “[i]f scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion.” Our Supreme Court has stated that “[i]t is not necessary that an expert be experienced with the identical subject area in a particular case or that the expert be a specialist, licensed, or even engaged in a specific profession.” State v. Bullard, 312 N.C. 129, 140, 322 S.E.2d 370, 376 (1984).

Here, Dr. Minneman was a licensed dentist. When tendered as a witness at the hearing, she testified that she was a 1985 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. She received her license on 20 May 1985. She stated that she commenced her practice as a clinical dentist at Umstead on 1 August 1985. She also testified that for seven years prior to becoming a dentist, she had worked as a dental assistant in a private practice and at the Wake County Health Department. The Board decided that she was appropriately qualified to testify as an expert in the practice of dentistry. Once the Board made the determination that Dr. Minneman was appropriately qualified as an expert, she was allowed to testify as to her observations and opinion. G.S. 8C-1, Rule 702. Much of her testimony was based on personally observing Dr. Woodlief treat his patients and on her own perform- anee of follow-up examinations on many of Dr. Woodlief’s patients. “The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to him at or before the hearing.” G.S. 8C-1, Rule 703. Dr. Minneman also testified as to the same standard of care that the Board later used in its findings of fact (see discussion infra).

Dr. Woodlief contends that the Board erred by admitting into evidence Dr. Minneman’s statements which were based on “her own ‘findings.’ from talking to dental assistants” in “unsworn interviews” and on the notes and reports of Dr. Woodlief and other doctors. We conclude that no prejudicial error occurred. G.S. 8C-1, Rule 703 provides:

The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to him at or before the hearing. If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject, the facts or data need not be admissible in evidence.

See State v. Smith, 315 N.C. 76, 337 S.E.2d 833 (1985). Initially, we note that the hearing here differed from other licensing hearings conducted by the Board where patients have provided testimony regarding a dentist’s actions. Here, the patients were clients at Umstead Hospital who were unable to testify because of their mental conditions. Givén these circumstances, it was within the Board’s discretion to allow the admission of Dr. Minneman’s statements. G.S. 150B-41(a) further provides that “when evidence is not reasonably available under such rules to show relevant facts, they may be shown by the most reliable and substantial evidence available.” The Board admitted Dr. Minneman’s statements and noted that in doing so it was attempting “to get as much information as possible” under the circumstances. Furthermore, in addition to Dr. Minneman’s testimony, the Board heard the sworn testimony of the clinic’s two dental assistants, whose statements were consistent with Dr. Minneman’s testimony. Another dentist, Dr. William P. Webster, also testified against Dr. Woodlief. In an administrative proceeding,

it is the prerogative and duty of that administrative body, once all the evidence has been presented and considered, “to determine the weight and sufficiency of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, to draw inferences from the facts, and to appraise conflicting and circumstantial evidence. The credibility of witnesses and the probative value of particular testimony are for the administrative body to determine, and it may accept or reject in whole of part the testimony of any witness.”

* * *

It is within the province of the Board as an administrative agency to apply its own expertise in its conduct and evaluation of a disciplinary hearing. In the process of accepting or rejecting expert testimony the law does not require the Board to identify its method of reasoning or its method of determining credibility.

Little v. Board of Dental Examiners, 64 N.C. App. at 68-69, 75, 306 S.E.2d at 536, 539 (citations omitted). Under G.S. 150B-41(a), we conclude that no prejudicial error occurred in the trial court’s affirming the Board’s admission of Dr. Minneman’s statements.

Upon review of the whole record, though there is some evidence supporting a contrary conclusion, we hold that the trial court properly concluded that there is substantial competent evidence to support the Board’s findings. Dr. Woodlief’s first eight assignments of error are without merit and the trial court’s conclusion that the Board’s findings must stand is affirmed.

Dr. Woodlief further contends that the trial court erred by affirming the Board’s finding that “[t]here is one standard of care for general dentists practicing in North Carolina. General dentists practicing in an institutional setting are required to render professional services to their patients in accordance with the same standard of care applicable to general dentists in a private practice setting.” Dr. Woodlief argues that the Board should have used a different standard of care because he was practicing in an institution which is operated by the Department of Human Resources under G.S. 122C-181(a)(l)(c). We disagree.

When construing a statute, “we are guided by the primary rule of construction that the intent of the legislature controls. In re Hardy, 294 N.C. 90, 240 S.E.2d 367 (1978)_We must avoid a construction which will defeat or impair the object of a statute, and should give the statute a construction which, when practically applied, will tend to suppress the evil which the legislature sought to avoid.” N.C. Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists v. N.C. State Board of Education, 77 N.C. App. 159, 161, 334 S.E.2d 503, 505 (1985) (affirming Board of Examiner’s narrow interpretation of statute disallowing exemption sought by employees of local school boards who were certified by State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction). Concerning the practice of dentistry, the intent of the General Assembly and the evil sought to be avoided are stated in G.S. 90-22:

The practice of dentistry in the State of North Carolina is hereby declared to affect the public health, safety and welfare and to be subject to regulation and control in the public interest. It is further declared to be a matter of public interest and concern that the dental profession merit and receive the confidence of the public and that only qualified persons be permitted to practice dentistry in the State of North Carolina. This Article shall be liberally construed to carry out these objects and purposes.

G.S. 90-29 provides that “[n]o person shall engage in the practice of dentistry in this State, or offer or attempt to do so, unless such person is the holder of a valid license or certificate of renewal of license duly issued by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.” Dr. Woodlief received his dentist’s license on 21 July 1975.

As a licensed dentist practicing dentistry in North Carolina, Dr. Woodlief was bound to follow the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board. G.S. 90-28, 90-41. The Board was the only appropriate body to determine the standard of care necessary in the dental treatment of the patients at Umstead Hospital. The Board correctly decided to use a single standard of care and the trial court correctly affirmed that decision. Our Supreme Court has stated:

The Dental Practice Act [G.S. Chapter 90, Article 2] is silent as to the standard of practice by which a dentist’s negligence or incompetence is to be measured. In considering the regulatory, licensing and disciplinary functions of the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, we hold that a statewide standard must be applied. That is, prior to invoking disciplinary measures as authorized under G.S. 90-41(a), the Board must first be satisfied that the care provided by the licensee was not in accordance with the standards of practice among members of the dentistry profession situated throughout the State of North Carolina at the time of the alleged violation.

The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, like all other professional licensing boards, was created to establish and enforce a uniform statewide minimum level of competency among its licensees. Applicants are required to meet a minimum statewide standard prior to being granted a license, G.S. 90-30; and licensees are required, irrespective of location in the State, to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board. Likewise, we believe that the decision of whether an applicant or licensee has violated any of the factors enumerated in G.S. 90-41 authorizing disciplinary action must also be viewed in the context of a uniform statewide standard.

In re Dailey v. Board of Dental Examiners, 309 N.C. 710, 722-23, 309 S.E.2d 219, 226-27 (1983) (footnote omitted) (emphasis in original). As a licensed dentist employed at a state mental hospital, Dr. Woodlief was bound to follow both the rules and regulations of the Department of Human Resources, which regulate employees at those institutions, and the rules and regulations of the Board of Dental Examiners, which regulates the practice of all dentists practicing in North Carolina. There is no provision in our statutes which exempts dentists working for state hospitals or agencies from the licensing requirements or from mandatory compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Dental Examiners.

Dr. Woodlief contends that the Board’s findings and ultimate suspension of his license for a period of two years are arbitrary and capricious. We disagree. This Court has stated that

[t]he “arbitrary or capricious” standard is a difficult one to meet. Administrative agency decisions may be reversed as arbitrary or capricious if they are “patently in bad faith” or “whimsical” in the sense that “they indicate a lack of fair and careful consideration” or “fail to indicate ‘any course of reasoning and the exercise of judgment’. . . .”

Lewis v. N.C. Dept. of Human Resources, 92 N.C. App. 737, 740, 375 S.E.2d 712, 714 (1989) (citations omitted). We find nothing in the record to indicate that the Board acted in such a manner. From its investigation and hearings, the Board made detailed find- in gs concerning Dr. Woodlief’s treatment of twelve different patients. After making the necessary findings, the Board was clearly acting within its statutory authority when it suspended Dr. Woodlief’s license. G.S. 90-41(a)(3). The Board’s final decision was supported by substantial competent evidence on the whole record as submitted. Accordingly, we find the Board’s suspension of Dr. Woodlief’s license was neither arbitrary nor capricious.

We have carefully reviewed Dr. Woodlief’s assignments of error and find each of th'em to be without merit. The judgment of the trial court below is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Judges GREENE and LEWIS concur.