Unfortunately, there may come a time in your medical career when a patient accuses you of medical malpractice. And even if you find this accusation to be untrue, they may bring it to the attention of the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC). Or, they may take matters into their own hands and file a civil complaint against you. Regardless, the penalties you may be up against are far less than ideal. Continue reading to learn what penalties come with an OPMC complaint versus a civil complaint and how one of the experienced OPMC/OPD misconduct defense lawyers at Walker Medical Law can come to your aid.
What are the penalties commonly associated with an OPMC complaint?
First of all, a patient may bring an OPMC complaint forward if they believe that you were participating in inappropriate or even illegal conduct while serving them. Examples of such accusations are as follows:
- A patient may accuse you of improperly billing them for your services.
- A patient may accuse you of abusing drugs or alcohol while serving them.
- A patient may accuse you of sexual assault while serving them.
- A patient may accuse you of practicing without the right licensing.
If the OPMC finds you guilty of any of the aforementioned inappropriate or illegal activities, then they may administer a censure and reprimand, along with hefty fines. However, the most significant penalty that may result from an OPMC complaint is a temporary suspension or permanent revocation of your medical license.
What penalties come with a civil complaint?
Secondly, a patient may file a civil complaint if they believe your actions did not constitute a crime but otherwise caused them harm through negligence. Examples of such accusations are as follows:
- A patient may accuse you of causing their birth-related injury due to your negligence.
- A patient may accuse you of performing the wrong type of surgery on them due to your negligence.
- A patient may accuse you of administering the wrong type or dosage of medication due to your negligence.
- A patient may accuse you of a misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis of their health condition due to your negligence.
And if the civil court rules that you are at fault for such negligent activity, you may be primarily facing financial penalties. This is because the patient is essentially suing you for financial compensation to cover the cost of the injuries and damages they incurred due to your negligence.
If you are wishing to defend against the medical misconduct claims placed against you, then you must retain the services of one of the skilled OPMC/OPD misconduct defense lawyers from Walker Medical Law today. We await sitting down with you at your initial consultation.
