The New York State Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) or Office of Professional Discipline (OPD) may, unfortunately, find you guilty of medical misconduct after a long investigation and hearing process. As a result, they may impose many harsh penalties on you, including hefty fines. These hefty fines may be as high as $10,000 for each finding of guilt. Not only is this punishment enough, but you may get into more trouble if you fail to pay them off on time or in full. With that being said, please read on to discover what happens if you do not pay a fine and how one of the seasoned OPMC/OPD misconduct defense lawyers at Walker Medical Law can help you through this financially trying time.
What happens if I do not pay a fine imposed by the OPMC or OPD?
The OPMC and OPD are in charge of investigating complaints and taking disciplinary action against healthcare professionals who violate medical conduct standards. That said, while they can sentence you to pay fines, they cannot personally exercise any debt collection tactics if you do not pay them off. For example, they do not have the power to garnish your wages. However, they may call on another authority to take action on their behalf.
That is, the OPMC or OPD may refer your unpaid fine to a collection agency. Specifically, the New York City Department of Finance is directed to collect debts owed to the city, including fines imposed for law violations. Or, they may even take the matter to the New York City Civil Court, enter a judgment against you, and potentially receive a court order granting them the funds to which they are entitled.
What if I cannot afford to pay off the fine in a reasonable timeframe?
You may regret the behaviors and actions that led to your guilty verdict of medical misconduct. You may have every intention of paying its consequences, including paying off the imposed fine. But this may be particularly difficult if the total is thousands of dollars and you have other significant debts and monthly living expenses to worry about. This may be worse if you have lost your employment and primary income source as a result of your misconduct.
Well, you should know that it is rare for the OPMC or OPD to take pity on you and your financial situation. If you do not pay off the fine on time or in full, they may consider this a separate professional misconduct offense. And so, they may take additional disciplinary actions, such as temporarily suspending or permanently revoking your license to practice medicine in New York State.
We understand just how overwhelming all of this can be for you. So, if you have any remaining questions, please consult with one of the competent OPMC/OPD misconduct defense lawyers. The team at Walker Medical Law is willing and able to provide you with legal assistance in any capacity.
