Defending Your Medical License with an Attorney’s Help

Common Complaints Against Medical Professionals

Complaints against medical professionals are far more common than you might think. However, not every type of complaint will warrant the suspension or revocation of your medical license. Some of the more common types of allegations and complaints that could put your medical license at risk include:

Being charged with a DUI or other criminal offense

Being the subject of a complaint investigation by the Texas Medical Board

Issues regarding peer review reporting or healthcare facility reporting

Testing positive for illicit drugs

Mental health issues

Allegations of professional misconduct or of gross medical negligence

Violations of the medical practice act

Medicaid or Medicare fraud

Allegations of sexual misconduct

Unlawful prescribing of medications

Investigations by the DEA

Failure to report information on your application

Failure to supervise a patient’s use of a controlled substance

Practicing medicine under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Inappropriate interactions with staff or patients

Inadequate or incomplete medical documentation

These are only a few of the more common allegations and complaints made against medical professionals. If there are other allegations made against you, and you believe your medical license could be on the line, it is imperative that you take action to protect yourself. A license defense lawyer at Bertolino LLP could help you protect your future.

Consequences Medical Professionals Face

There are a wide variety of penalties you could face if the Texas Medical Board finds the allegations against you are valid. First, it is important to consider that you could be facing criminal charges. If you are convicted of a criminal offense, you could spend time in prison, be ordered to pay fines, and face other penalties.

If you have been accused of medical malpractice, you could also have an insurance or civil claim brought against you. Here, you could be ordered to compensate the alleged victim for all of the ways their lives have been affected by their injury or illness.

Your medical license could be on the line as well. The consequences your career could face could be astronomical. If the Texas Medical Board determines the allegations against you are true, you could face disciplinary action, including reprimand, administrative fines, suspension of your medical license, and revocation of your medical license.

With so much on the line, it has never been more important to take steps to defend yourself. Your medical license defense attorney can help you prepare a compelling defense so you can get back to your life and protect your career.

Call Today

What to Expect When a Complaint Is Made Against You

Each medical profession often has its own unique process. In general, it usually involves the following steps:

Evaluate the complaint filed against you – We can help you with this step and offer you advice on what to do based on years of experience handling such complaints.
Acknowledge you received the complaint – You will likely receive a letter from the Texas Medical Board or another oversight organization informing you that a formal complaint has been made against you. You might feel compelled to immediately respond to the letter and deny any wrongdoing, but the reality is anything you say or write could be used against you.
Start gathering evidence – The formal complaint letter will likely contain details about the allegations made against you. We can investigate such allegations and search for the facts that prove that you behaved in a responsible, ethical manner.
Prepare for a disciplinary hearing – Often, you will need to appear before the Texas Medical Board or another oversight committee responsible for ruling on such complaints. Our attorneys can help you prepare for your hearing and will effectively respond to your formal complaint and mount a strong defense.
Submit necessary paperwork – Certain boards require physicians to respond in writing to formal complaints made against them. Our attorneys can help you submit any required paperwork and serve as your liaison with the board ruling on your complaint.
Appeal your complaint – If the board ruling on your complaint rules in favor of the person who filed the initial complaint, you may be able to appeal your complaint to the same board or another higher authority, depending on your profession. We can help you with your appeals process every step of the way.

What to Do if Your Medical License Has Been Suspended, Revoked, or Denied

If your medical license has already been denied, suspended, or revoked, it is important to get a legal advocate on your side who can help you handle these consequences. We may be able to assist you in challenging the Texas Medical Board decision and help you continue practicing as a medical professional. Many people are quick to assume that a medical license suspension is the same as a medical license revocation; however, this is not the case.

Suspensions may be temporary, while medical license revocation may be considered indefinite. Your attorney can help you understand the sanctions imposed on you. If you have applied for your medical license and were denied, your attorney may be able to help you reverse this decision.

Handling any past disciplinary actions, answering any charges you may have faced in your youth, and even administrative mistakes can prevent you from obtaining your medical license. However, it is important to keep in mind that issues with your medical license do not automatically mean you will not be able to practice medicine. Although your career may be temporarily placed on hold, by working with a medical license defense attorney, you may be able to get your license reinstated and get back to your life.

Impairment Programs for Medical Professionals

If the Texas Medical Board, Administrative Law Judge, or other authority imposes sanctions that impact your medical license, your future could be on the line. You may be able to avoid some of the more severe penalties by agreeing to participate in an impairment program. When medical professionals such as nurses, physicians, surgeons, and other types of healthcare providers are dealing with issues in their personal lives that have affected their careers, they may be eligible for participation in an impairment program.

If you are dealing with alcohol addiction, mental health issues, drug addiction, sex addiction, or other personal substance abuse or mental health issues, you may be considered unfit to practice medicine. By participating in an impairment program, you may be able to avoid the revocation of your medical license.

If you successfully complete the terms of the program and can prove to the Texas Medical Board that you are fit and competent to continue practicing medicine, your license could instead be temporarily suspended while you complete the terms of your program. From there, you may be able to get your medical license reinstated and begin practicing once more. If you are interested in learning more about your eligibility for an impairment program, be sure to discuss your options with your licensed defense attorney.

Contact a Medical License Defense Attorney for Help Today

People turn to you when they want advice from an experienced medical professional. We can do the same for you when it comes to offering knowledgeable legal advice. We know how the legal system works in Texas, and we know what needs to be done to mount a strong legal defense to protect your medical license.

Schedule your no-cost, risk-free consultation with an experienced medical license defense lawyer at Bertolino LLP to get started on your case. You can reach us by phone or through our convenient contact form to discuss your case with our Client Relations Coordinator.

Contact Now