If you’re a doctor, a nurse or another licensed professional and you get arrested for drunk driving in the State of New York or anywhere else, you should be aware that this is not simply a criminal issue. It is also an issue that can impact your medical license. From the beginning, when you get your criminal attorney to deal with this, try your very best to either get the case dismissed or to plead guilty to a violation as opposed to a misdemeanor or a felony.
The reason this is so important is that you may face the question “have you been found guiltily of a crime?” A crime is defined as a felony or misdemeanor. Pleading guilty to a violation is not a crime and therefore is not unprofessional conduct. Prosecutors throughout the state don’t normally like to let people out on a violation, but sometimes your attorney is able to manage it. If so, it is of great benefit to you.
If you are convicted of a crime or have to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, you should go and see an OPMC attorney right away. It’s going to come up. They’re not going to miss it and you’re going to face OPMC or OPD if you’re a medical professional. It is going to have some consequence. You want to limit the consequences this has on your license. Sometimes there’s just a $500 fine, sometimes there’s a censure and reprimand. If it’s your third or fourth time for the drunk driving offense, you might end up in a drug rehab, which will really cost you a lot of money and be very difficult for you. Just remember, the second you are arrested for a DUI, be alert. This also impacts on your medical license and your livelihood.
Walker Medical Law serves the greater New York area with quality legal services representing physicians and other medical providers facing legal matters and license issues. If you need our legal services, contact our New York office for a consultation.
