WHEREAS, the Director of the Missouri Department of Corrections has a duty under the Eight Amendment of the United States Constitution and sections 217.020, 217.025 and 217.230 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri to provide medical care for offenders committed to the Missouri Department of Corrections; and
WHEREAS, this duty requires the Director of the Missouri Department of Corrections to select, routinely monitor, evaluate and retain or dismiss licensed professional health care staff; and
WHEREAS, the Missouri Department of Corrections receives and investigates all inmate grievances including grievances about health care staff and services; and
WHEREAS, the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts pursuant to sections 334.010 to 334.265 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri licenses, investigates complaints and disciplines all physicians and surgeons in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, the Missouri Dental Board pursuant to sections 332.011 to 332.221 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri licenses, investigates complaints and disciplines all dentists in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, the State Committee of Psychologists pursuant to sections 337.010 to 337.093 licenses, investigates complaints and disciplines all psychologists in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, the State Board of Nursing pursuant to sections 335.011 to 335.096 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri licenses, investigates complaints and disciplines all nurses in Missouri; and
WHEREAS, in order for the Director of the Department of Corrections to perform this duty, the Director must have routine access to all complaints filed by an inmate committed to the Missouri Department of Corrections against any health care professional licensed by the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, Missouri Dental Board, State Committee of Psychologists, and State Board of Nursing, who provides health care services to Missouri inmates as an employee of the Missouri Department of Corrections or pursuant to a contract with the Missouri Department of Corrections for such health care services, any investigative reports conducted by such Boards as a result of inmate complaints and any disciplinary decisions of these Boards with respect to inmate complaints; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Corrections will use this information for the sole purpose of monitoring the quality of health care provided to inmates committed to the Department of Corrections; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MEL CARNAHAN, Governor of the State of Missouri, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby direct, pursuant to section 610.032 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, Missouri Dental Board, State Committee of Psychologists, and State Board of Nursing to provide the Director of the Department of Corrections copies of all complaints filed by an inmate committed to the Missouri Department of Corrections against any health care professional licensed by the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, Missouri Dental Board, State Committee of Psychologists, and State Board of Nursing, who provides health care services to Missouri inmates as an employee of the Missouri Department of Corrections or pursuant to a contract with the Missouri Department of Corrections for such health care services, any investigative reports conducted by such Boards as a result of inmate complaints and any disciplinary decisions of these Boards with respect to inmate Complaints. And I further direct the Department of Corrections to continue to receive and investigate all inmate complaints.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 27th day of August, 1999.
[Mel Carnahan's signature]
GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
[Rebecca McDowell Cook's signature]
SECRETARY OF STATE
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