2244

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 643

(B)  THE DENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE IS A COMMITTEE OR
BOARD DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

(1)  A REGULATORY BOARD OR AGENCY CREATED BY
STATE OR FEDERAL LAW TO LICENSE, CERTIFY, OR DISCIPLINE ANY
PROVIDER OF DENTAL CARE; OR

(2)  A COMMITTEE OF THE MARYLAND STATE DENTAL
ASSOCIATION OR MARYLAND DENTAL SOCIETY AND THEIR COMPONENT
SOCIETIES OR A COMMITTEE OF ANY OTHER PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
OR ASSOCIATION COMPRISED OF LICENSED PROVIDERS OF DENTAL
CARE; OR

(3)  A COMMITTEE OF THE MEDICAL STAFF OR OTHER
COMMITTEE OF A "HOSPITAL" OR "RELATED INSTITUTION" AS
DEFINED UNDER ARTICLE 43 OF THE CODE, IF THE COMMITTEE WAS
FORMED AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE HOSPITAL
OR RELATED INSTITUTION, OR THE COMMITTEE OPERATES PURSUANT
TO WRITTEN BYLAWS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING
BOARD OF THE HOSPITAL OR RELATED INSTITUTION; OR

(4)  ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION CONTRACTING
WITH AN AGENCY OF THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (SUCH AS A
PROFESSIONAL STANDARD REVIEW ORGANIZATION) TO PERFORM ANY OF
THE FUNCTIONS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION;
OR

(5)  ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION CONTRACTING
WITH A PROVIDER OF DENTAL CARE TO PERFORM ANY OF THE
FUNCTIONS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION IF THE
FUNCTIONS ARE LIMITED TO REVIEW OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE
PROVIDER OF DENTAL CARE.

(C)  THE DENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE SHALL ENGAGE IN ONE OR
MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:

(1)  EVALUATING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF
DENTAL CARE RENDERED BY PROVIDERS OF DENTAL CARE;

(2)  EVALUATING THE NEED FOR AND THE LEVEL OF
PERFORMANCE OF DENTAL CARE RENDERED;

(3)  EVALUATING THE QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCE,
AND PERFORMANCE OF PROVIDERS OF DENTAL CARE; AND

(4)  EVALUATING AND ACTING UPON MATTERS RELATING
TO THE DISCIPLINE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL PROVIDER OF DENTAL CARE.

(D)  THE PROCEEDINGS, RECORDS, AND FILES OF A DENTAL
REVIEW COMMITTEE ARE NEITHER DISCOVERABLE NOR ADMISSIBLE
INTO EVIDENCE IN ANY CIVIL ACTION ARISING OUT OF MATTERS
WHICH ARE BEING REVIEWED AND EVALUATED BY THE COMMITTEE.
THIS IMMUNITY DOES NOT APPLY TO A, CIVIL ACTION BROUGHT BY A
PARTY TO THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE AND
CLAIMING TO BE AGGRIEVED BY THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE.
ALSO, THIS IMMUNITY DOES NOT EXTEND TO ANY RECORDS OR