As a practicing physician, the last thing you may want to deal with is the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC). This is because getting on the OPMC’s radar can negatively impact the trajectory of your professional career. If you have been summoned to an OPMC hearing, follow along to find out what you should expect and how one of the proficient attorneys at Walker Medical Law, who specialize in OPMC/OPD misconduct defense, can best prepare you for what is ahead.
What should I expect for my OPMC hearing?
If one of your patients accuses you of medical malpractice, then they will likely report it to the OPMC, a branch of the Department of Health of the State of New York. With this, you will likely receive a complaint letter from the OPMC. Soon after, they will launch an investigation of the medical malpractice claim placed against you.
Once the investigation has concluded, this is when they will conduct a hearing. Like a trial, your hearing will take place in front of an OPMC committee, which is generally made up of two physicians and one non-physician. The significance of this one non-physician in the hearing committee is to offer a neutral third party.
More specifically, you should expect the following sequence of events for your OPMC hearing:
- The hearing committee will review the information that was submitted for the complaint and the accusations that have been made.
- The hearing committee may request that you have your medical license temporarily suspended if they believe that your practice is an immediate threat to your patients or the public.
- The investigation committee will gather information against you through interviews with colleagues, witnesses, and patients, among others. Once they reach a conclusion, they will present their findings to the hearing committee.
- You will present your defenses to the hearing committee.
- The hearing committee will examine all of this provided information to determine whether you should keep your medical license, have it suspended, or have it revoked altogether.
Why do I need an attorney for my OPMC hearing?
Put simply, if your OPMC hearing does not end in your favor, then you may be facing some serious, long-term consequences. Such consequences may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The temporary or permanent loss of your license.
- Being placed on probation.
- A decree of censure.
- A letter of reprimand.
With that being said, it is crucial that you have a talented OPMC/OPD misconduct defense attorney from the get-go. We will not only prepare you for your hearing, but we will provide you with strong legal representation throughout. We will do everything in our power to maintain your reputation in the medical practice. So, give us a call as soon as you can.
