Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals must meet certain criteria and adhere to certain behavioral standards in order to maintain their careers. When they violate these standards, the court may suspend or revoke their licenses, and they will not be able to work in the medical field. The loss of one’s license is a devastating blow, and it can impact a person’s ability to earn a living for the rest of his or her life.
If you are a doctor or other type of medical professional in California, it is critical that you are attentive to the rules you must follow and adhere to the standards set forth by the governing boards. It is in your interests to know what counts as unprofessional conduct and what issues could lead to a problem with your license. This is an important way to protect your career.
Overseeing the practice of physicians
State boards have the role of overseeing complaints filed against doctors and medical professionals, reviewing allegations of misconduct and evaluating standards for physicians. The board will initiate an investigation if there are complaints that allege a doctor is acting in a way that is unprofessional or in violation of the law. If the allegations are legitimate, it can lead to the suspension of one’s license. Behaviors that are likely unprofessional conduct include:
- Sexual misconduct
- Neglect of a patient
- Failure to meet a certain standard of care
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Conviction of a felony
- Prescription of drugs without necessity
- Failure to meet education requirements
- Fraud
- Dishonesty during the evaluation stage
- Inadequate record-keeping
When a doctor or medical professional acts in a way that is unprofessional, the board may initiate different types of discipline. The requirements of this may include additional education, license suspension or, in more severe cases, revocation of the license.
What happens next?
License suspension or revocation is devastating for a doctor. If you are dealing with this or facing allegations of professional misconduct, you will benefit from seeking professional guidance immediately. This can be critical as you work to preserve your career, protect your long-term interests and take steps to ensure that you are able to work in your chosen field for years to come. You have the right to fight back against any threats to your professional licensure.
