Who makes up the Probable Cause Panel (PCP)?

The Probable Cause Panel (PCP) is comprised of three members, all of whom must hold active dental licenses. This structure is crucial as it ensures that the panel has relevant expertise and understanding of the dental profession when evaluating complaints and determining if there's sufficient cause to proceed with disciplinary actions against licensees.

The involvement of licensed professionals ensures that the decision-making process is informed by individuals who are familiar with the standards of practice, regulations, and ethical considerations that govern the field of dentistry and dental hygiene. By requiring all panel members to possess active licenses, the panel can approach each case with the necessary professional perspective to assess the situation effectively.

In contrast, having members exclusively from the Board of Dentistry or solely dental hygienists would not meet the requirement for diversity in professional experience and may limit the scope of insight into the various perspectives within the field. Additionally, including only public members would lack the necessary specialist knowledge to evaluate professional conduct convincingly. Thus, the composition of the Probable Cause Panel is structured to ensure fair and knowledgeable evaluation of potential professional misconduct.