Ever since the days of Hippocrates—who included in his famous physician’s oath the words, “In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction, and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men […]” — the concept of improper relationships in doctor-patient interactions has been a topic of concern.
In today’s society, we may be seeing the highest level of attention paid to improper relationships due to balance-of-power issues in the history of humankind. And any doctor will certainly acknowledge that, in interactions with patients who rely upon them for diagnosis of worrying symptoms, prescribing of symptom-alleviating medications, courses of treatment, and even surgery, the balance of power leans in favor of the one who has the knowledge and the license to practice the life-saving arts.
Whether one sees in the “Me Too” movement a proper corrective to an unjust system or an over-reaction to time-worn verities is a matter of political and personal judgment. But there is no question that the matter of whether one decides to believe the word of the accuser or the accused in a given situation holds analogs to the profession we practice here at BERTOLINO LLP. Law is so often a matter of “he said, she said,” (or “he said, he said,” or “she said, she said”… you get the point)—and this field long ago recognized that one-dimensional slogans like “always believe the victim” can be just as dangerous as the opposite (“never believe / just blame the victim”). In part because a simple, rigid formulation such as this invites abuse of the concept.
The Texas Medical Board, which is responsible for licensure of doctors in Texas, holds as its highest value the protection of patients. As such, it has often leaned more toward “believe the victim” than toward “believe the doctor” as its default mode. And some patients have learned to take advantage of this. It is certainly not unheard of for patients to make unfounded claims of an improper relationship on the part of a doctor. It’s an easy way for an unscrupulous, manipulative patient who has not gotten their way—unconcerned with their own reputation—to cause harm to a doctor who has been unwilling to go along with their manipulations. And such a claim can, ultimately, result in a physician losing their license.
It is therefore absolutely imperative that a physician falsely accused of an improper relationship with a patient contact a skilled license defense attorney like BERTOLINO LLP immediately, so we can craft a strategic plan to combat these ludicrous allegations and maintain your license to practice your chosen livelihood.
Professional License Defense
BERTOLINO LLP provides aggressive advocacy for professionals who are facing disciplinary action in front of a licensing board, agency, or commission in Texas. We have consistently won significant cases for podiatrists, other doctors, nurses, lawyers, architects, pharmacists and other professionals dealing with issues that could jeopardize their ability to work. We know how to build a strong case to protect your license—and your livelihood.
Our law firm helps professionals, like you, keep their licenses when those licenses are under attack by a state agency or board.
With offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, we serve clients all over the state. As experienced attorneys, well-versed in state and federal laws, we know how to win. Our results speak for themselves!
If you are facing disciplinary action from a professional licensing board, contact us today or call (512) 476-5757 and schedule a case evaluation.
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