South Carolina § 40-25-160 - Complaints against licensees; hearing; suspension or revocation of license; grounds; refunds.

§ 40-25-160. Complaints against licensees; hearing; suspension or revocation of license; grounds; refunds.

(A) A person wishing to make a complaint against a licensee under this chapter shall file a written complaint with the department within one year from the date of the action upon which the complaint is based. If the department determines the charges made in the complaint are sufficient to warrant a hearing to determine whether the license issued under this chapter must be suspended or revoked, it shall make an order fixing a time and place for hearing and require the licensee complained against to appear and defend against the complaint. The order and copy of the complaint must be served upon the licensee at least thirty days before the date set for hearing, personally or by registered mail sent to the licensee's last known address. Continuances or adjournment of hearing date must be made if for good cause. At the hearing the licensee complained against may be represented by counsel. The licensee complained against and the department may compel the attendance of witnesses by subpoenas issued by the department under its seal.

(B) A person registered under this chapter may have his license revoked or suspended for a fixed period or be required to make a refund by the department for:

(1) conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. The record of conviction or a certified copy, certified by the clerk of court or by the judge in whose court the conviction is had, is conclusive evidence of the conviction;

(2) procuring of license by fraud or deceit practiced upon the department;

(3) unethical conduct, including, but not limited to:

(a) obtaining a fee or making a sale by fraud or misrepresentation;

(b) knowingly employing directly or indirectly a suspended or unregistered person to perform work covered by this chapter;

(c) using or causing or promoting the use of advertising matter, promotional literature, or testimonial, guarantee, warranty, label, brand, insignia, or other representation, however disseminated or published, which is misleading, deceptive, or untruthful;

(d) advertising a particular model or type of hearing aid for sale when purchasers or prospective purchasers responding to the advertisement cannot purchase the advertised model or type, where it is established that the purpose of the advertisement is to obtain prospects for the sale of a different model or type than that advertised;

(e) representing that the service or advice of a person licensed to practice medicine will be used or made available in the selection, fitting, adjustment, maintenance, or repair of hearing aids when that is not true or using the words "doctor" or "clinic" or similar words, abbreviations, or symbols which tend to connote the medical profession when the use is not the case. No hearing aid specialist who is not a licensed audiologist may represent himself as a licensed audiologist in the practice of selling hearing aids;

(f) habitual intemperance;

(g) gross immorality;

(h) permitting another's use of a license;

(i) advertising a manufacturer's product or using a manufacturer's name or trademark which implies a relationship with the manufacturer that does not exist;

(j) directly or indirectly giving or offering to give or permitting or causing to be given money or anything of value to a person who advises another in a professional capacity as an inducement to influence him or have him influence others to purchase or contract to purchase products sold or offered for sale by a hearing aid specialist;

(k) stating or implying that the use of a hearing aid will restore or preserve hearing or prevent or retard progression of hearing impairment;

(4) conducting business while suffering from a contagious or infectious disease;

(5) engaging in the practice of specializing in hearing aids under a false name or alias with fraudulent intent;

(6) selling a hearing aid to a person who has not been given tests utilizing appropriate established procedures and instrumentation in fitting of hearing aids, except in cases of selling replacement hearing aids or where it is medically impossible to conduct routine testing;

(7) gross incompetence or negligence in fitting and selling hearing aids; or

(8) violating this chapter.

(C) If a refund must be made under this section, the department may suspend the license of the person required to make the refund until it is made.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 56-745.12; 1971 (57) 1012; 1992 Act No. 312, SECTION 1.