A physician license defense lawyer defends medical practitioners facing disciplinary action up to and including revocation of their license to practice medicine. The loss of your medical license can be permanent and prevent you from continuing in your career and earning a living. When facing a threat to your license, hiring a Texas physical/occupational therapy license defense lawyer can be critical.
When you hire a physician license defense attorney to help you defend your medical license, they will investigate the allegations that have been made against you and build your case to help prevent the suspension or revocation of your license or any other unwanted consequences.
Reasons You May Need a Physician License Defense Lawyer
There are a variety of complaints that can threaten your physician license. If the Texas Medical Board (TMB) receives a complaint about you, they will inform you that a complaint has been filed and investigate the allegations.
While lesser complaints can take a while to be processed, TMB prioritizes more serious complaints. When facing a serious complaint, hiring an experienced physician license defense lawyer quickly can be critical so you have time to build a strong defense. Some of the complaints an attorney can help you fight include:
- Medical negligence (improper diagnosis, treatment or substandard care)
- Inadequate medical documentation
- Professional misconduct
- Patient abuse
- Improperly prescribing or monitoring controlled medications
- Failure to adequately supervise a medical professional working under you during patient care or treatment
- Fraudulent billing, insurance or government benefits (Medicaid or Medicare) practices
- Prescription drug fraud
- Substance abuse or prescription drug diversion
This list is far from exhaustive. Patients and colleagues can file a complaint about a physician for any conduct they believe may be illegal, unethical, or unprofessional or any treatment of a patient that does not meet the standard of care.
If you are facing a threat to your physician’s license for any reason, it is critical that you reach out to an experienced Texas medical license defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Disciplinary Actions That Can Result From a Complaint
Facing a formal complaint can be stressful, and the risk to your future can be severe. The consequences if you are found to have committed an offense will vary depending on the type, nature and extent of the offense. Possible ramifications if the TMB finds you guilty include:
- Private or public reprimands: Disciplinary actions that can be issued in the form of a warning or letter
- Fines: Financial penalties imposed by the TMB
- Requirements for Continuing Medical Education (CME): Mandated additional education to address areas of concern
- Conditions imposed by the TMB: Various conditions that might be set as part of the disciplinary process
- License restrictions: Limits to your practice scope or specific activities
- License suspensions: Temporary loss of license with the possibility of reinstatement upon fulfilling specific requirements
- Probation: Includes practicing under supervision, having your license monitored, or being restricted from performing certain procedures
- License revocation: Loss of the ability to practice medicine in the state
What a Physician License Defense Lawyer Will Do to Protect You
When you are facing a threat to your license, hiring an experienced physician license defense attorney can be essential for protecting your right to practice medicine. You need to choose a lawyer with a comprehensive understanding of how both state and federal laws can affect your case, who will design a defense tailor-made to your particular situation.
An experienced lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations against you so that they can create a defense that counters the accusations effectively.
Your lawyer will argue your case in whatever legal proceeding or administrative hearing you must appear at, including:
- State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) proceeding: Your lawyer will represent you at SOAH proceedings, where an Administrative Law Judge will hear your case and make recommendations.
- Informal settlement conference (ISC): These are less formal hearings where your lawyer can negotiate and argue on your behalf to resolve the issue without proceeding to a formal hearing.
- A temporary suspension/emergency suspension hearing: If your case involves immediate suspension, your lawyer will argue to prevent or lift the suspension based on the circumstances of your case.
Attempting to handle these procedures on your own can be difficult. Fortunately, an experienced Texas medical license defense lawyer will be familiar with how these cases are handled and the best approach to take to secure a favorable outcome.
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Reach Out to Our Firm if Facing a Potential Physician License Suspension Today
Losing your physician license can upend your life. When faced with this potential outcome, it is critical that you secure the services of an experienced physician license defense lawyer who can build a strong case on your behalf. At Bertolino LLP, we have a long history of helping medical professionals retain their license and their right to practice medicine.
When facing the prospect of losing your license, you should never attempt to represent yourself. These cases can be complicated, and the consequences of losing are severe. Contact us by phone or through our website to set up a free case review with one of our Client Success Liaisons.
Check out our case results to learn more about the work we have done helping people in situations like yours.
Call or text (512) 476-5757 or complete a Case Evaluation form
