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What is the role of a panel member during a fair hearing?

Panel members are required to listen, ask questions when necessary for clarification, and work with other panel members to reach a rational and fair conclusion. Generally, panel members are expected to hear the evidence against the physician in support of the MEC recommendation and hear the rebuttal from the physician under review. The burden of demonstration that the MEC's recommendation is capricious, malicious or without basis falls on the physician who requested the hearing.