Why may the board use discretion in notifying a licensee of a filed complaint?

The board may choose to exercise discretion in notifying a licensee of a filed complaint primarily to prevent potential tampering of evidence. This is crucial in ensuring that the integrity of the investigation is maintained. If a licensee was notified immediately, it could lead to them altering, destroying, or otherwise interfering with evidence related to the complaint. By withholding notification at certain stages, the board aims to protect the validity of the investigative process and gather a complete and accurate account of the situation before the licensee has a chance to respond or act on the complaint.

Other reasons, such as ensuring compliance with regulations or expediting the investigation process, while important, do not address the specific concern of preserving evidence during an investigation. Maintaining public relations is also a factor in the board's considerations but is not as directly linked to the necessity of evidence safeguarding as the chosen answer.