The unfortunate day might come when the New York Department of State’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) or Office of Professional Discipline (OPD) informs you of their intentions to run a full investigation against you. At this time, you must acknowledge that you are in quite some serious trouble. That is, you must prepare for the expense of having to defend yourself against medical misconduct accusations, not to mention what happens after potentially being found guilty. With that being said, please follow along to find out the literal and figurative cost of medical misconduct and how a proficient OPMC/OPD misconduct defense lawyer at Walker Medical Law can help you avoid this altogether.
What is the cost of being found guilty of medical misconduct?
Essentially, if the OPMC or OPD rules that you are guilty of committing medical misconduct, they may impose fines of up to $10,000 per offense. This is not to mention other potential penalties they may place against you, which may be associated with additional expenses.
For example, the OPMC or OPD may temporarily suspend your medical license. In the hopes of getting it reinstated after a few years, you may try to exhibit that you are bettering yourself as a medical professional and overall as a human being. This may entail you paying out of pocket for in-patient rehabilitation for your substance abuse issue, paying registration fees for continuing medical education (CME) courses, or otherwise. Going along with this example, you must not forget about the costs associated with filing a Petition of Reinstatement for your temporarily suspended medical license. This may cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars that you otherwise could have avoided.
What other expenses must I consider during this time?
In addition to the expenses that the OPMC or OPD may impose on you, there is also the possible cost of defending yourself in civil case proceedings. That is, the patient who was made the victim of your medical misconduct may take it upon themselves to pursue a malpractice claim against you. With this, you may have to hire a lawyer to represent you. There may also be mandatory court fees if you take it to litigation. And if the judge and jury ultimately finds you at fault for the incident, they may order you to pay compensatory damages to the plaintiff, such as their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life, and much more.
Even if you try to settle this case before it makes it to trial, you may have to pay tens of thousands of dollars or more. All the while, your medical license may be temporarily suspended or permanently revoked. Meaning, you may not have a significant, steady income to pay for all these added expenses.
In conclusion, if you are ready to defend yourself against medical misconduct claims, please first retain the services of a talented OPMC/OPD misconduct defense lawyer. Our team at Walker Medical Law is ready and able to take on your case.
