Being convicted of drunk driving comes with adverse impacts on your medical license. More specifically, the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) and/or the Office of Professional Discipline will enforce some consequences. Continue reading to learn what will happen to your medical license after a drunk driving charge and how one of the experienced New York physician defense lawyers at Walker Medical Law can help you avoid this.
Will I be punished by the OPMC/OPD after my drunk driving charge?
Being accused of drunk driving will likely lead to either a felony charge or a misdemeanor charge. And with this criminal conviction now on your permanent record, you are technically guilty of unprofessional conduct. So in short, yes, the OPMC and/or the OPD will take disciplinary actions against you after your drunk driving charge.
How will the OPMC/OPD punish me after my drunk driving charge?
When you go to reregister your medical license, there will be a question regarding whether you have been convicted of a crime since your last registration. If your drunk driving was considered a misdemeanor or a felony, and not just a violation, then you must truthfully answer “yes” to this question. Importantly, you must answer “yes” regardless of whether your conviction was in New York State or a surrounding state. This is because, if you lie on your application, this turns into a much more serious problem.
Then, your answer will be reviewed by the OPMC and/or the OPD. Ultimately, they may punish you with a fine, a censure of reprimand, or even the revocation of your medical license.
What should I do to protect my medical license after my drunk driving charge?
The best alternative you may take to protect your medical license after your drunk driving charge is to request that OPD settle your case via a Violations Committee Settlement. Notably, this committee is reserved for misconduct of a minor or technical nature. When evaluating your case, they will consider the following factors to determine your eligibility for this settlement:
- Whether there was any property damage or physical injury involved in your incident.
- Whether there were additional charges of leaving the scene of the accident, resisting arrest, or otherwise.
- Your blood alcohol content level at the time of your being pulled over and arrested.
You should not be mistaken in thinking that this alternative will help you avoid punishment altogether. But while you will have to face the consequences, your incident will not be posted on the OPD’s website and will not be reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank. Meaning, your incident will not be accessible to patients or others who look up your information.
You should also note that there may be a $500 fine included in this settlement option. To receive more information on this, contact a skilled New York physician defense lawyer today.
