Medical professionals may oftentimes be viewed as real-life superheroes amongst patients and the general society. While the work they do may be extraordinary, at the end of the day, they are just ordinary people who go through the same struggles that life has to offer. As a healthcare professional yourself, you may know this all too well. You may have recently undergone a traumatic event or otherwise have deep-seated issues that have caused you to battle with your mental health. If so, you may be extremely concerned about whether this affects your eligibility for a New York medical license. For this, please read on to discover whether you need to disclose a mental health diagnosis on your application to the state’s medical board and how one of the seasoned New York physician defense lawyers at Walker Medical Law can guide you through the necessary steps and support resources.

Do I need to disclose a mental health diagnosis when applying for a New York medical license?

Generally speaking, medical professionals looking to get licensed in New York State should disclose their mental health diagnosis on their application. Diagnosed mental health issues may be treated the same as confirmed physical impairments that may affect your ability to administer care to patients safely.

If you are still unsure if this is necessary, consider whether your mental health condition is mild or fully managed. Reflect on whether you have had to be hospitalized, receive intensive treatment, or submit to a monitoring program because of it. If the answer to any of these is yes, it is in your best interest to disclose it, along with these personal details.

And if this does not convince you enough, you must understand that serious consequences may be tied to a failure to disclose. That is, if you have already been granted a medical license, the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) or Office of Professional Discipline (OPD) may suspend or revoke it, have someone monitor you, or restrict your practice capabilities.

How will the New York State Board of Medicine evaluate my mental health condition?

To reemphasize, the New York State Board of Medicine may only be concerned about your mental health condition if they believe that it will significantly hinder your ability to practice safely. That is, the Board may consider the following factors before deciding to approve or reject your application:

  • The nature and severity of your mental health condition, as per a professional’s diagnosis.
  • The treatment and management programs you actively participate in for your mental health condition.
  • The effect your mental health condition will have on your cognitive abilities, motor skills, and professional behavior.
  • Your history with disciplinary actions, patient complaints, and safety incidents related to your mental health condition.

Before you file your medical license application, you must seek one of the competent New York physician defense lawyers to walk you through the process. Please contact our office, Walker Medical Law, as soon as you are ready to get started on this.