Kansas Social Workers – Facing Ethical Issues and How an Attorney Can Help You

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Social workers take on a variety of responsibilities that are intended to serve the best interests of many Kansas residents.  Most professions carry with them certain challenges that can present ethical dilemmas, and social work is no different.  Many Kansas families depend on social workers to resolve a variety of serious issues that implicate one’s rights and interests.  Understanding how to address ethical dilemmas as a Kansas social worker is essential to protecting your professional license.

Ethical Dilemmas You May Face as a Kansas Social Worker

Social workers provide services to people who have been through a very traumatic or emotional experience, whether that be a child custody dispute, the loss of a loved one, or the inability to live independent from day to day, among others.  Regardless of what the particular case may be, social workers face a variety of ethical dilemmas, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Maintaining confidentiality – This is a very important issue that affects most professions.  Information regarding a particular client should always be kept confidential.  However, in situations where certain information is very concerning, social workers may feel compelled to share this information.  For example, if a client states that he or she is contemplating suicide, this is information that may need to be shared in order to protect this client.
  • A client’s right to self-determination – Whatever the situation may be, the client is always the decision-maker in any social worker/client relationship.  This can be very difficult when a client’s decisions are contrary to his or her best interests.  This can be disheartening, as social workers strive to help clients make the right choices, but it is also a reality of being a social worker – clients do not always follow good advice.
  • Keeping the relationship professional – Social workers know all too well that relationships with patients must remain strictly professional.  If a social worker wishes to become involved with a client, or simply wishes to become friends, the social worker cannot have both a professional relationship and a personal relationship simultaneously, as this is in violation of the social worker code of conduct.  It is best to never initiate personal relationships if at all possible.  In the even that a personal relationship begins, any professional relationship should be terminated.

You are likely to come across other ethical dilemmas during your career that are not outlined above.  No matter what issue you are dealing with, it is essential to ensure you are following your profession’s guidelines, rules and regulations.  A professional license defense attorney can provide you with the information you need to determine how to proceed in a given situation that presents an ethical dilemma.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

As a Kansas social worker, you play a vital role in the health and well-being of many individuals.  You may come across ethical dilemmas leaving you feeling a little uncertain.  Knowing what the right decision is in any given situation is sometimes a very difficult task.  If you are facing the loss of your Kansas social worker license or have questions regarding an ethical issue, it is important that you consider how a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney can help you.  Speaking with an attorney is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing.  By speaking with an attorney, you are taking the proper steps to address the situation and find a solution that allows you to continue your career as a social worker.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office is a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney who has helped many Kansas professionals successfully fight the potential loss of their licenses.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Ms. Sanger offers a unique perspective not shared by all attorneys.  If you would like to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation with Ms. Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Personal Trainers – What to Watch Out for When Working With Clients

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Personal training professionals must adhere to rules and regulations that are governed by associations and organizations that issue certifications.  As such, the oversight process is a little different for personal training professionals than it is for Kansas licensed professionals.  This is important to keep in mind if you are currently a personal training professional, or wish to pursue such a career.  Regardless of the fact that personal trainers are not regulated by a Kansas board, such professionals must still follow similar requirements.

Aside from the regulatory requirements of being a personal training professional in Kansas, as such requirements differ from association or organization to the next, personal trainers must also be aware of how certain actions or conduct could result in a client filing some form of disciplinary complaint, or even initiate legal action.  This may occur in situations including, but certainly not limited to, the following:

  • A client is injured during a training session and believes the personal trainer is at fault for any one of a variety of reasons (improper instructions, pushing the client too hard, etc.);
  • A client accuses a personal trainer of harassment, whether it be sexual in nature, demeaning, or otherwise; and/or
  • A client believes his or her personal trainer is unqualified.

Given that personal training professionals may have different approaches to helping clients achieve their fitness goals, every case will be different, so a variety of issues may arise that are not listed above.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

It cannot be stressed enough that everything you do must be documented in writing.  Once you begin a relationship with a new client, you should ensure the client has a thorough understanding of what to expect, what the rules are, and what your qualifications are as a personal training professional.  Further, any time your client complains about something (no matter how minor the complaint may seem to be), you should document such complaints in your file.  Such documentation is extremely helpful if your career is attacked in anyway in the future.

You should not have to lose your personal training certification for something that you simply did not do.  While there are occasions when a particular personal training professional has committed some wrongdoing, many personal trainers lose their certifications or jobs over false or unwarranted allegations.  In order to prevent this from happening to you, be cognizant of the potential hazards that are a natural consequence of helping clients, regardless of what the particular profession is.  Speaking with an attorney can also provide you with the support and guidance that you need.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

Many people don’t realize that becoming a personal trainer isn’t simply attending one or two classes and getting certified.  Just like other Kansas professions, personal trainers are held to a certain standard.  While the state of Kansas does not regulate the personal training industry, personal trainers must still adhere to the rules that govern the issuance of their certifications.  If you are a Kansas personal trainer, and you believe your certificate is at risk in any way, you may consider speaking with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney.  While we always hope to have the best clients possible, there will be some clients that may not be satisfied, or may feel they have been harmed in some way.  Regardless of why your profession may be at risk, a skilled attorney can help you fight and overcome the issue in the most reasonable way possible.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office has the advocacy skills and dedication necessary in a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney.  If you would like to schedule a free consultation to speak with Ms. Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Healthcare Professionals – What You Should Know About “Lien Letters”

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As a Kansas healthcare professional, you face many challenges that are unique to the healthcare industry.  While being a healthcare professional is certainly a rewarding experience, the profession carries with it the risk that your conduct may be questioned, even if you have done nothing wrong.  When your integrity, reputation, and/or your expertise are challenged in any way, you may feel a little on edge.  Being accused of negligence or misconduct can be a significant stressor that impedes your ability to do your job to your fullest potential.

What is a “Lien Letter”?

If a current or former patient alleges that you have caused him or her harm in some way, that individual may choose to take legal action.  Some individuals simply file a medical malpractice lawsuit, and seek to either settle the case outside the courtroom, or go to trial.  Others choose to seek resolution of a potential medical malpractice claim before even filing a lawsuit.  By doing so, attorneys on behalf of these individuals send what are called “lien letters” to the healthcare professional alleging malpractice.

Upon receiving a lien letter, the healthcare professional may decide to turn over the potential claim to his or her malpractice insurance carrier.  Depending on the nature and extent of the alleged injuries an individual has suffered, some healthcare professionals decide it is much easier to have the claim paid out.  If a healthcare professional believes an allegation is completely unfounded, he or she may choose to fight the issue, seeking the guidance of an attorney.

Why You Should Consider Speaking with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney

Issues regarding lien letters are often dealt with by medical malpractice defense attorneys.  However, depending on the particular facts of your situation, and how serious the allegations against you are, you may need to speak with a professional license defense attorney, as your Kansas license could be at risk.  Many medical malpractice claims are not successful where no fault can be proven.  Likewise, many complaints that patients and other individuals have about Kansas healthcare professionals do not result in disciplinary action or the loss of a professional license.

Regardless of whether a patient’s allegations against you are valid, it is important to keep in mind that any potential legal matter could implicate you professional license, especially in situations where a patient has both sent a lien letter to you and/or filed a lawsuit against you, and simultaneously filed a complaint against you with the Kansas Board of Healing Arts.  While the Board disregards claims that have no merit, you never know how the Board will react from one case to the next, and you should be prepared for what to expect.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

Kansas healthcare professionals, whether physicians, dentists, or otherwise, place their careers and reputation at risk on a regular basis.  An unfortunate reality of being a healthcare professional is that unhappy patients may feel they have been harmed in some way and want to hold a healthcare professional accountable, even if there seems to be no fault at all on the part of the healthcare professional.  If you are a Kansas healthcare professional, and you believe your professional license may be at risk, for any reason at all, it is crucial that you speak with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney as soon as possible.  With the assistance of a qualified attorney, you will have a more clear understanding of what you are dealing with.  Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office has extensive experience helping professionals just like you.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Ms. Sanger provides her clients with thorough and quality legal representation.  To schedule your free consultation, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Professionals – How Important is Continuing Education for Your License?

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Whether you are a nurse, an attorney, a physician, or a dentist, among other professions, you know all too well how time-consuming and sometimes boring continuing education courses can be.  Once in a while, you may find a continuing education program that is very exciting and quite helpful for your career.  However, it seems as though many programs only reiterate information you may already know.  Regardless of whether or not particular continuing education programs are helpful, it is essential that you remain up to date on your continuing education requirement in Kansas.

The Consequences of Failing to Satisfy the Continuing Education Requirement in Kansas

It is easy to overlook the need to obtain continuing education credit, especially when you are extremely busy helping out your patients and clients.  Failure to stay current on continuing education requirements may result in one or more of the following:

  • The temporary suspension of your Kansas professional license;
  • The potential revocation of your Kansas professional license if you repeatedly fail to meet the continuing education requirement;
  • Private or public reprimand; and/or
  • The requirement to obtain additional continuing education credits beyond the general requirement for your profession.

It is important to keep in mind that every situation is different, and the consequences for failure to satisfy the continuing education requirement are certainly not limited to those listed above.  As such, it is crucial to take all steps possible to stay current on your continuing education requirements.

Tips for Staying Current on Your Continuing Education Requirement in Kansas

If you find yourself scrambling at the last minute to get the required number of continuing education credits for your profession complete before the deadline, you should consider attending continuing education classes on a rolling basis throughout the year.  Trying to make a fast approaching deadline can be stressful as well as an impediment to your professional career, as you will have to devote a significant amount of hours to reach your continuing education requirement outside of your work schedule.

In addition to spacing out your continuing education courses, you should also review each potential course and find what you believe is either most interesting to you, and/or what courses are most applicable to your profession.  Further, if you provide feedback to your profession’s governing board, that board may offer improved continuing education courses in the future.  Attending any course is not always the most enjoyable thing for professionals who have already gone through many years of school.  However, if you approach the courses in a different light, you may find that the courses are in fact beneficial to your Kansas professional career.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

As a Kansas professional, you likely are required to attend continuing education courses in order to keep your professional license current.  While some of the courses may feel like a waste of time, failing to fulfill this requirement can have a detrimental impact on your professional license.  Whether you are facing the potential loss of your Kansas professional license, or you simply have questions about what your rights and obligations are as a Kansas professional, you should consider speaking with a seasoned Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office knows what to expect from Kansas professional licensing boards.  Ms. Sanger’s unique experience enables her to provide her clients with well-rounded legal representation that prepares them for what to expect in any given situation.  If you would like the guidance of a true advocate, you should consider speaking with Ms. Sanger to discuss your situation.  To schedule your free consultation, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.