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Executive committee denies Dr. James Hughes’ request to reinstate license
Summary
The State Board of Medical Licensure executive committee denied Dr. James Hughes’s request for reinstatement of an unrestricted Mississippi physician license and outlined steps he must complete to seek reconsideration.
Dr. James Hughes appeared before the State Board of Medical Licensure executive committee seeking reinstatement of his Mississippi medical license, which lapsed after a renewal in 2022 and expired in 2023.
The committee denied his request after an executive-session review and told Dr. Hughes he may ask the committee to reconsider after completing specified evaluations. The committee listed a neuropsychological examination and a clinical competency course as prerequisites for reconsideration.
Dr. Hughes told the committee he retired from surgery in 2012 but continued “general orthopedic” patient care through telemedicine, house calls and phone consultations. He said he has maintained continuing medical education and that “now I have, over 50 CMEs” to present. He estimated he spends “20 to 30 hours” a week on telehealth and related patient care and about 20 patients per week.
Ken Cleveland, executive director, and several committee members questioned whether the board had documentation showing continuous clinical practice at the level required by board rules. Committee members noted that when a license lapses beyond a grace period, Rule 1.3 requires either passing a clinical skills assessment or participating in a board‑approved reentry program. The board indicated it lacked evidence that Dr. Hughes had consistently met the clinical-practice thresholds during the period his license was inactive.
After closing the meeting for executive session, the committee returned to open session and announced its decision. “The decision of the executive committee is that this request for licensure be denied,” a member read to Dr. Hughes. The committee listed two steps Dr. Hughes must complete before he may seek another review: a neuropsychological evaluation to confirm fitness for practice and completion of a clinical competency course (reported by the committee as a CPAP course for clinical competency). The committee said that, upon receipt of those reports, Dr. Hughes may request reconsideration.
Dr. Hughes acknowledged the board’s requirements and said he wished to continue providing compassionate clinical care, including nonoperative orthopedic evaluations and referrals, telemedicine consults and occasional home visits. He confirmed he has an active narcotics (DEA) registration but stated he has not used it because he understood it requires an active state license.
The committee also directed Dr. Hughes to coordinate next steps and any scheduling questions with board staff. Committee members advised that further documentation and supervised demonstration of clinical competence would be required before reinstatement could be approved.
Dr. Hughes thanked the committee for the hearing and said he would pursue the items listed by the committee.
