Morris Plains Doctor Appointed to State Panel

Among the nominations made Monday, Dec. 12 by Gov. Chris Christie was Dr. Lesley Ann Fein, MD, of Morris Plains to the state Medical Practitioner Review Panel.

Fein practices rheumatology and internal medicine in West Caldwell. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University.

Governor’s appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the State Senate.

The Medical Practitioner Review Panel reviews referrals of complaints alleging professional misconduct, incompetence, negligence or impairment against physicians. The panel takes the referral information and does any additional investigation the members deem necessary and make a recommendation, within 90 days, to the state Board of Medical Examiners.

If the panel feels the referral is warranted, it may recommend the physician enroll in treatment or an education program. If the panel has a reason to believe the physician presents an imminent danger to his or her patients, the members will notify the state Attorney General and can recommend a temporary suspension or limiting of license.

Members of the panel are nominated for a three-year term and may serve two consecutive terms.

Eight of the nine members of the panel are appointed by the governor. The ninth is an ex officio member appointed by the president of the state Board of Medical Examiners.

Four of the members are physicians, one of whom must be licensed to practice psychiatry or experienced in the field of chemical dependency and one of whom must be employed by an HMO.