When a person files a complaint with the Office of Professional Medical Conduct about the inappropriate actions of a doctor, there are a lot of steps that have to be taken in order to determine what the consequences will be. Removing a doctor’s license to practice is not an action taken lightly, but neither is misconduct. In order to determine what the consequences will be, the OPMC must determine whether or not the accusations that have been made are in fact correct. They will need to collect evidence of the misconduct and assess the whether it should result in a license suspension or total revocation. Before a hearing can even occur, there must be a thorough investigation of the accusations that have been made.
If the extensive evidence that is collected concludes that the doctor did in fact violate the standards that the OPMC holds, there will be a hearing that decides the fate of the doctor’s license. If criminal actions were committed, they will also have to go through the legal process associated with that. At the hearing, the doctor in question will go in front of the Board of Medical Professionals and they will determine the appropriate penalties. The committee who determines the outcome of the case at the hearing consists of two doctors and one person outside of the medical field who can provide another opinion. This hearing will have a major effect on the future of the doctor’s professional career and may result in license revocation altogether.
If you are informed that a complaint has been made against you, you will require strong legal representation that can help protect your future. Contact an experienced medical defense attorney who can assist with your case.
If you require a medical law attorney for your legal matters, call Paul E. Walker, an experienced New York City OPMC & OPD Lawyer. Please contact the Walker Medical Law firm to set up a free initial consultation.