Commission on Medical Discipline v. Bendler

Murphy, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court. We granted certiorari in this case to decide whether the Circuit Court for Montgomery County erred in concluding that there was legally insufficient evidence before the Maryland Commission on Medical Discipline to permit the indefinite suspension of the appellee’s license to practice medicine in this State. Since we find that the circuit court had no jurisdiction in the matter, we are precluded from reaching the merits of the case and must therefore dismiss the appeal. 1 The appellee, Dr. Benne Bendler, an internist specializing in pulmonary disease, enjoyed admitting privileges at the Holy Cross Hospital in Montgomery County. In early 1974 ³²⁸ her medical colleagues began noticing that she appeared euphoric at times and that her speech was occasionally slurred.

They, therefore, monitored her patients and, in mid-summer, 1975, her hospital privileges were withdrawn. An investigation revealed that, contrary to her prior practice, Dr. Bendler was writing a large number of prescriptions for certain controlled drugs, which she frequently picked up herself, often paying cash. She was called before the Montgomery County Medical Society and appeared on one occasion. She did not return, although she had been requested to meet monthly with the Society.

In the fall of 1975, the matter was referred to the Commission on Medical Discipline (the Commission), which was “established as part of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene." Maryland Code (1957, 1971 Repl. Vol.), Art. 43, § 130 (a). The Commission charged Dr. Bendler with “[professional, physical, or mental incompetency,” 2 and on November 18, 1975, it held a hearing. Dr. Bendler was notified but did not attend.

She was found guilty of professional incompetence, and her license to practice medicine was suspended indefinitely. Dr. Bendler appealed directly to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, contending that the evidence before the Commission was legally insufficient to support the Commission's decision. The circuit court agreed, holding that the Commission’s action was not supported by competent, material, and substantial evidence; it reversed the order of the Commission. The Commission noted an appeal to the Court of Special Appeals, 3 and we granted certiorari prior to decision by that court.

It is clear that orders of the Commission are subject to judicial review. Article 43, § 130 (p) 4 deals specifically with judicial review of Commission decisions suspending a physician’s license to practice medicine; it directs that ³²⁹ judicial review shall be by an appeal to the Baltimore City Court or to a county circuit court, filed within thirty days after the filing of the Commission’s order. Article 48, § 130 (j) 5 provides that all proceedings of the Commission are subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, which entitles an aggrieved party to judicial review of a final agency decision in a contested case. Code (1957, 1971 Repl.

Yol.), Art. 41, § 255(a). Code (1957, 1971 Repl. Vol., 1976 Supp.), Art. 41, § 206A (c) provides that the Board of Review of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene “shall hear and determine appeals from those decisions of the Secretary or any departments or other agencies within the Department ... which are subject to judicial review under § 255 of this article [Administrative Procedure Act] or under any other provisions of law.” Section 206B sets forth the procedure to be followed in all cases appealable to the Board under § 206A. It provides that the decision of the Board of Review “shall be the final agency decision for purposes of judicial review under § 255 of this article or for purposes of any other provisions of law permitting appeals to the courts from decisions of agencies included within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.” The section further provides that “[a]ppeals from decisions of the board shall be as prescribed in the Administrative Procedure Act or by the substantive