Nurses

New York City Nurse Defense Lawyers

nurse-1796924Experienced Representation For All Nurses

At Walker Medical Law, we have successfully represented Registered Nurses (RN), Nurse Practitioners (NP), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) in disciplinary matters before the Department of Education, and Office of Professional Discipline (OPD) involving allegations of professional misconduct. If you’re a nurse and you receive a letter from the Office of Professional Discipline, you have a problem. Somebody has complained about you and your governing institution will investigate you to see if you deserve to keep your medical license. As a nurse, you want to make sure that you get the best possible representation immediately. It is important to be proactive in this process. When facing allegations of professional misconduct that jeopardizes your future in the medical field, contact Walker Medical Law for a consultation.

What to do when a nurse is found to be in a substance abuse situation?

If you are a nurse or a nurse practitioner, any incidents of substance abuse, usually the illegal use of narcotics, can have a devastating effect on your practice and your ability to work. Often, the situation comes to light when the medical practitioner is arrested by law enforcement and charged with obtaining the drugs illegally, usually through the wrongful use of prescriptions. Facing criminal charges, you will be removed from your place of employment in some way. Often, you will be placed on “unpaid suspension” with the idea that you might be able to return to work if and when the problem is solved. Your case is not the first your employer has encountered.

You should be to get into a rehabilitation program which will probably cause you to be in a facility for anywhere from three to five weeks. Part of the discharge planning will be your engagement with an outpatient rehabilitation program focused on medical professionals. This engagement includes counseling and random drug tests up to 5 times per month.

Your employer will report this situation to the Department of Education.  The Department will temporarily suspend your license. As long as you can convince the Department that you are rehabilitated and the drug tests support that claim, you can get your license back. The Department has an organization which monitors health care professionals in your position and will work to get you back to being a productive caregiver.

Contact Walker Medical Law

Substance abuse is not necessarily the end of the line for you as a professional.  You can get your life back, but it will take determination on your part and good advice and counseling from others along the way.  Do not go down this road alone.  Instead, enlist experienced professionals to assist you. These people will be attorneys, drug counselors and other people in the substance abuse arena.  If you know the road map, the trip will be much easier. A nurse, like a doctor, must start with rehabilitation therapy and that might convince the Department of Education that the nurse is capable of treating patients without being a danger.  The entire situation has to be handled very carefully with an experienced lawyer. If you’re a nurse that’s been involved in a malpractice defense claim, Contact Walker Medical Law today.