在佛州按摩委员会面前你应该怎样为非正式听证做准备。
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M.
Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
作者：林达思.乔治 – 佛洲注册的专门从事卫生法方面的资深律师
If you are scheduled to appear for an informal hearing before the Florida Board of Massage Therapy, there are a number of facts that you will want to know in order to be properly prepared. This article will cover many of them.
如果你与按摩委员会委员约定了非正式听证的时间，那么有很多细节你应该了解，这篇文章将会在下面详细介绍。
Limited Circumstances for Informal Administrative Hearing
限制条件下的非正式听证会
First, you should understand that you will only be at an informal hearing in which you appear before the Board of Massage Therapy itself for a very limited number of reasons. These will include the following:
首先，你应该明白只有如下几个原因你可以要求按摩委员会举行非正式听证会。
- If you completed an election of rights (EOR) form and agreed that you did not intend to dispute any material facts alleged against you from the administrative complaint (AC) in the case.
你填写了一张给予你的权利选择的表，并且表示你无意反驳行政部门对你的指控。
- If you entered into a settlement agreement (or “stipulation”) (similar to a plea bargain in a criminal case) in which you agreed to accept discipline against your license.
你同意进行和解（或者是调解）（有点类似于刑事犯罪的调解, 并且接受对你的执照做出的纪律处罚。
- You failed to submit any election of rights (EOR) form and failed to file a petition for a formal hearing in a timely manner, and, therefore, you have waived your right to a formal hearing.
你没有填写任何一张给予你的权利选择的表，并且没有在规定的时间内提出要求正式听证的要求，那就表示你已经放弃了你要求的正式听证的权利。
There are a few other circumstances in which there may be an informal hearing before the Board, such as motions to modify a final order, motion to lift a suspension of a license, appearance in accordance with an earlier order, petition for a declaratory statement, or other administrative matters. This article only discusses those directly relating to disciplinary action as indicated above.
此外，还有另外一些情况也可以要求非正式听证会，但是这种情况很少，例如：有意达成最后的意向，有意撤销终止执照，似乎与先前做出的意向吻合，类似请愿的申诉，等等其他行政方面的问题。这篇文章中只讨论与纪律处分有关的问题。
What an Informal Administrative Hearing Is Not
非正式听证会不是：
- An informal administrative hearing is not an opportunity for you to tell your side of the story. You have agreed that there are no disputed material facts in the case or you would not be at an informal hearing.
不是给你机会去陈述你的故事，因为你已经同意不去反驳对你的指控或者你也不会在非正式听证会出现。
- An informal administrative hearing is not an opportunity for you to prove that you are innocent of the charges. You have agreed that there are no disputed material facts in the case or you would not be at an informal hearing.
非正式听证会不是给你机会去证明你是清白的，因为你已经同意接受对你指控的事实是成立的，或者你也不会在非正式听证会上出现。
- An informal administrative hearing is not an opportunity for you to introduce documents or evidence to show that someone else committed the offenses charged and you did not. You have agreed that there are no disputed material facts in the case or you would not be at an informal hearing.
非正式听证会不是给你机会让你去呈献材料去证明你的清白，或者证明你是被陷害的。因为你已经同意对你的指控的事实是成立的，或者你也不会在非正式听证会上出现。
An informal administrative hearing is not an opportunity for you to argue that you should not be in the board’s impaired practitioners program (either the Professionals Resource Network (PRN) or the intervention Project for Nurses (IPN)) because you have completed a different program or that you do not have a problem. These are the only programs recognized and used and you have agreed that there are no disputed
- material facts in the case or you would not be at an informal hearing.
非正式听证会不是给你机会让你去争论你不应该被归置与专业能力受损的一类人员中（或者专业人员网络名单中PRN）或者IPN），因为你已经同意对你的指控事实是成立的，或者你也不会在非正式听证会上出现。
Formal Administrative Hearing vs. Informal Hearing
正式听证会 VS非正式听证会
If you desire to contest the facts alleged against you then you must state this in writing. If the material facts in a case are challenged by you, then the Board or the Department of Health (DOH) (note: all professional boards are under the Department of Health in Florida) must forward your case to the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) where a neutral, objective administrative law judge (ALJ) will be appointed to hold a formal hearing in your case. This is the only way that exists for you to prove that the facts alleged against you are incorrect or that you are not guilty of the charges made against you. In fact, you do not even have to do anything in such a case. The Department of Health has the burden of proof and it has to prove the charges against you and the material facts alleged against you by clear and convincing evidence. Often, it is unable to do this at a formal administrative hearing.
如果你渴望去反驳对你的指控，你必须提出书面申请。如果你对控诉你的材料有质疑，卫生厅必须把你的案件交给行政部门。行政部门会指派一个公正的行政法官来审理你的案件（注：所有的佛州的专业人员都在行政部门的管理之下）。这是你证明你清白或者无罪的唯一方式。事实上，到此为止，你不必做任何事情。卫生厅已掌握了大量的无以反驳的证据来控诉你。所以说你如果想为自己辩解是不可能的。
However, because of the technicalities of evidentiary law and administrative law, we do not recommend that a nonlawyer attempt to represent himself or herself at such hearings. You can make technical mistakes (such as answering requests for admissions
incorrectly) that severely compromise any defense you may have. We recommend that you always retain the services of an experienced health lawyer in any such matter.
因此，鉴于专业法律和行政法律的专业性原因，我们真的不推荐你为自己辩诉。因为你很容易被误导（如错误的回答有关的提问），这样对你的答辩极为不利。我们建议你应该聘请擅长卫生法的专业律师。
What to Do If You Find That You Are at an Informal Hearing and That You Do Desire to Contest the Material Facts of the Case (And Your Guilt or Innocence)
如果你要求了一个非正式听证会，但是渴望反驳对你的指控（你是清白的或是无辜的），你应该怎样做呢？
If you have been scheduled for an informal administrative hearing and you decide that you do desire to challenge the material facts alleged against you in the administrative complaint (AC), file a written objection to proceeding at the informal hearing. State that you have discovered that there are material facts that you do desire to challenge and that you desire that the proceedings be converted to a formal hearing. File this with the Clerk of the administrative agency you are before (usually the department of health or the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and also send a copy to the opposing attorney and the executive director of the Board. Do this as early as possible and keep proof that you have actually and filed the written request.
如果你已经预约非正式听证会，但是现在你渴望反驳行政部门对你的指控，那么你就应该书面申请来反驳对正在进行中的非正式听证中对你的指控。在书面申请中，你应该表明你渴望对你的提出的指控进行反驳，并且希望把非正式听证会转变成正式听证会。你可以与你以前打过交道的办事人员联系（通常是卫生厅或者是有关卫生行政部门），并且要给对方律师和行政部门负责人一份复印件。这些事情一定要尽快进行，并且要保留你寄去书面申请的证据。
If you are already at the informal hearing when you discover this, object to the proceedings on the record and ask to have the informal hearing be converted to a formal hearing where you may contest the material facts. State this as many times as reasonably possible.
当你发现以上的所提到的事实，但是你已经在非正式听证会上了，那么你可以在记录中要求停止非正式听证会，并且提出要把非正式听证会转成正式听证会，要求反驳对你的指控。你需要多次的合理的提出你的要求。
Preparing for an Informal Hearing
非正式听证会的准备
Since you are not contesting the facts alleged against you, if you are going to an informal hearing be sure you do the following:
既然你不反驳对你的指控并且打算去参加非正式听证会，你应该做如下的准备：
- Be sure you know where the hearing is going to be held. Try to stay the night before in the same hotel as the hearing will be held. You will usually have to make these reservations early in order to get a room.
你要确定听证会在哪里召开。尽可能在听证会的前一晚待在举行听证会的同一宾馆里。你可能需要预定房间。
2. Attend a Board meeting that occurs before the one at which your case is scheduled. This will give you a feeling for the procedures that will be followed, will help to make you less nervous when you appear, and you can obtain continuing education units for doing so (be sure to sign in and sign out). Be sure to attend one of the days when the disciplinary hearings are held.
可以选择参加一个在你听证会前面的一个听证会，这样你就知道有些什么样的手续，而且轮到你的时候你就不会太紧张（注意不要忘记在进出时签名）。一定要确保参加一个与你同天举行的听证会。
3. Dress professionally for the appearance. This may be the most important event in your professional career. For men, this means a suit and tie or, at least, a dark coat, dark slacks and a necktie. For women, a professional business suit or the equivalent is in order. Do not dress as if you are going to the park, the beach or out on a date. Do not wear sexually provocative or revealing clothing.
穿着打扮要专业，因为这是你专业生涯中很重要的一个事件。男士应该穿西装打领带，至少要穿一件黑色的外套，合体的裤子和一个蝴蝶领结。女士也该同样穿着得体。避免沙滩约会类衣服，绝对避免过于性感的衣着。
4. Check the agenda that is published on line a day or two before the scheduled hearing to make sure that your case is still scheduled for the date and time on the hearing notice. Informal hearings may be moved around on the schedule. Make sure you are there at the earliest time on the hearing notice or agenda.
在听证会的一两天前，要查看议程表。确定听证会时间表，和是否如期执行。确保提早到达听证会场所。
5. Listen to questions asked of you by Board members and attempt to answer them directly and succinctly. You will be placed under oath for the proceeding and there will be a court reporter present as well as audio recording devices to take everything down.
在听证会上，要听清楚委员所问问题，并且简明扼要的回答。你将会要求在法庭上宣誓，法庭会有法庭记录员，并且还有录音设备。所有的过程将
6. Do not argue with the Board members or lose your temper. This is not the time or place to let this happen. If you have such tendencies, then you should have an attorney there with you who can intercept some of the questions and can make defensive arguments (to the extent that they may be permitted) for you.
确保不要与委员们争辩，避免情绪激动。由于此场合决不允许此状况发生。如果你感觉无法自控，则应聘请专业律师来帮助你和委员们争辩。（在一定程度上，这是允许的）。
7. You may introduce documents and evidence in mitigation. However, you have agreed that the material facts alleged are true, so you may not contest these. In effect, you have plead guilty and you are just arguing about how much punishment (discipline) and what kind of punishment you should receive.
你可以再提交文件或者证据，但是你已经承认对你的指控。因此，你的辩解是无效的。因事实上，你已经承认了你是有罪的。你只是与委员们争论有关对你的处罚和如何处罚的问题。
8. If you do intend to introduce documents and evidence in mitigation, be sure you know what the mitigating factors are (these are published in a separate board rule in the Florida Administrative Code for each professional board). These may include, for example, the fact that there was no patient harm, that there was no monetary loss, that restitution has been made, the length of time the professional has been practicing, the absence of any prior discipline, etc. You should submit these far ahead of time with a notice of filing, so that they are sent out to the board members with the other materials in your file. This is another reason to have experienced counsel represent you at the informal hearing.
如果你有意呈交一些文件和证据，来试图减轻对你的惩罚。你要确定明白什么是减轻惩罚的要素。（在佛州的行政法则中，每个专业委员会都有单独分开公布的条款）。例如：没有伤害到病人，没有金钱的损失，已经予以偿还，职业的时间，从无受到法律的处分，等等。以上材料都要准备齐全。这样你所有的材料将会一并寄交给委员们。在非正式听证会上这是一个很重要的原因为什要聘请一个专业的律师来帮助你。
9. Be prepared to take responsibility for your actions. If you are not prepared to take responsibility, then this means you must believe you are innocent and you should be at a formal hearing, not an informal one.
你必须要做好对自己行为负责的准备。如果你没有准备好，那将意味着你是无辜的，而你所需要的是一个正式听证会，而不是非正式的。
10. Be prepared to explain what went wrong, why it went wrong, and what remedial measures you have taken to prevent a recurrence of this type of event in the future. Show that you have learned from this experience and that you are not going to make the same mistake again.
你要准备好去解释哪里错，为什么错，和你已经采取了什么样的预防措施去避免以后发生类似的错误。这样表明了你从自己的过错中得到了经验，并不会再犯同样的错误。
11. It is our advice to always retain the services of an experienced attorney to represent you at such hearings. Often your professional liability insurance will cover this. If you have professional liability insurance, be sure that it contains a rider or addendum that provides coverage for professional license defense matters and administrative hearings. You need at least $25,000 to $50,000 in coverage for this type of defense. If necessary, you should contact your insurer or insurance agent and have the limits increased for a small additional premium.
我们建议你应该聘请专业的律师，和你一起维护个人权利。通常你的责任保险会覆盖这些费用，你要确认你购买的责任保险中包括了附加条款说明它覆盖了你专业执照的辩护以及行政听证的费用。这种辩护通常需要$25,000 ~ $50,000。如果必要，你应该联系保险公司或者保证人，在你最低标准中小幅度提高你的保险金。
Other Little Known Facts to Remember
其他须知
Professional licensing matters are considered to be “penal” or “quasi-criminal” in nature. Therefore, you have your Fifth Amendment rights in relation to being required to give evidence against yourself. You cannot be compelled to do this in such matters. However, since it is an administrative proceeding and not a criminal proceeding, there is no requirement that the licensee be advised of this by a DOH investigator or attorney.
专业执照的事件被看作是刑事的，或者是类似刑事的。因此，你拥有第五修正案的权利去提交证据来反驳对你的指控。在这件事情上你不能被强迫。然而，因为这是一个行政的过程，而不是一个刑事的过程。因此，不需要行政卫生厅的调查员或律师来通知你。
If you enter into a settlement agreement and attend the informal hearing to approve it, nothing you say or testify to at this hearing can later be used against you. This is because you are involved in an attempt to negotiate and settle (or compromise) the claims being made against you. It is a general rule of law that nothing the parties say in such settlement proceedings can later be used as evidence if the settlement agreement is not approved. The law tries to promote settlements among parties to any dispute in this way.
如果你已经达成协议，并且已参加非正式听证会。那么你在听证会上所说和所证明的事实，将不能再日后被用来指控你。因为你已经企图协商对你的指控，这是法律上一个大体的规则
这是法律上一个大体的规则，如果和解协议没有被批准，那么双方在和解中的陈述则不能在日后用来作为证据。法律将试图促进双方的和解，避免如此的争论。
It is true that on occasion the Board will examine a case on an informal hearing and will decide to dismiss it. This is rare, but it does happen. Sometimes, it will be a tactical decision on the part of you and your attorney to elect to go to an informal hearing with the hope that the Board may examine the case and decide to dismiss it. However, you cannot count on this happening.
委员会偶尔也会举行非正式听证会，并且决定停止控诉，这极为少见但会发生。有时，这是你和你律师之间的一个策略性的决定来选择一个非正式听证会，希望委员会能受理并且终止控诉。但是这种几率不大。
Don’t Wait Too Late; Consult with an Experienced Health Law Attorney Early
不要拖延，尽快联系有经验的律师
Do not wait until action has been taken against you to consult with an experienced attorney in these matters. Few cases are won on appeal. It is much easier to win your case when there is proper time to prepare and you have requested a formal hearing so that you may actually dispute the facts being alleged against you.
绝对不要等到被控诉以后才联系律师。因为在这种情况下，胜诉的几率甚为渺小。如果你在有效的时间内充分为正式听证会做准备去反驳对你的指控，那么胜诉的机会将大大提高。
The lawyers of The Health Law Firm are experienced in both formal and informal administrative hearings and in representing massage therapists in investigations and at Florida Board of Massage Therapy hearings. Call now or visit our website www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
我们健康法律师楼的律师们在正式和非正式听证会中都有着丰富的经验。我们提供代表佛州的按摩师在调查和听证方面的服务，请打电话或者浏览我们的网站www.TheHealthLawFirm.com
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
关于作者：林达思.乔治 是佛州注册的有关健康卫生方面的资深律师。林律师作为公司的董事长以及健康律师楼的合作伙伴，执业范围遍及全国。总公司地址及联系电话：Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
