Final answer:
The DEC cannot ignore the findings and recommendations of a hearing panel; it can only accept, reject, or modify them to adhere to professional ethical standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The option that is not available to the Discipline and Ethics Commission (DEC) when reviewing the hearing panel's findings and recommendations is Ignore. The DEC can accept, reject, or modify the findings and recommendations but not ignore them.
The Discipline and Ethics Commission is responsible for ensuring that the professional conduct within a certain field adheres to established ethical standards. When a hearing panel provides findings and recommendations after reviewing a case, the DEC must engage with those findings by either accepting, rejecting, or modifying them.
Ignoring the findings is not a recognized action because it fails to fulfill the DEC's obligation to address the issue at hand. This would undermine the purpose of having a disciplinary process, which aims to maintain the integrity of the profession.