Why Am I Facing Disciplinary Action from the OPMC?

As a practicing physician within the New York State medical community, we believe you walk into every work shift with your best intentions and best efforts at the forefront. But most unfortunately, it may only take one minor misstep or otherwise one disgruntled patient to turn the whole trajectory of your career sideways. That is, if one of your former or current patients submits a complaint with the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC). If this is sadly your current reality, please read on to discover why you are facing disciplinary action from the OPMC and how one of the seasoned New York physician defense lawyers at Walker Medical Law can help you better understand how seriously you need to take this case.

Why am I currently up against disciplinary action from the OPMC?

You may understand that the OPMC intends to investigate you based on a formal complaint they received from one of your former or current patients. But your perplexity may lie in why exactly your patient has complained about you. Well, the OPMC may look into and subsequently conduct disciplinary action in any of the following circumstances:

  • A patient alleges that you have made them a victim of sexual misconduct or another form of abuse.
  • A patient alleges that you have been abusing drugs or alcohol while providing them with healthcare.
  • A patient alleges that you have been improperly billing them for services and care you never provided.
  • A patient alleges that you have been negligent in their healthcare and caused them serious health complications.
  • A patient alleges that you have been discriminating against them, which led to further bodily injuries or illnesses.

How do I know if a patient has a valid complaint against me?

You may rest easier knowing that your former or current patient must supplement their complaint to the OPMC with sufficient evidence; this is because medical misconduct is a serious allegation that must be grounded on solidified facts. So, if your patient cannot provide adequate proof of a possible violation, the complaint may not even make it to the OPMC investigation committee.

But even if an investigation does commence against you, the committee may not uncover enough evidence suggesting your misconduct. Here, your case may be closed and not make it to another investigation, a hearing, and ultimately, an order of disciplinary action.

This is all to say that you may know for certain that a patient has a valid complaint against you if it escalates to an additional investigation by the OPMC investigation committee or the hearing level with the OPMC board. Regardless, as soon as you get word of a potential complaint, you must prepare for an uphill legal battle.

In conclusion, at this time, what matters most is that you retain strong legal representation to get you through this critical case. Please contact one of the competent New York physician defense lawyers from Walker Medical Law today.