I have seen nurses’ lives and careers devastated because they agreed to a “voluntary suspension” of their nursing license or to speak to an investigator without the assistance of an attorney while the nursing board investigated allegations of misconduct. While the nurse under investigation believed that “playing ball” or helping the investigators would help their […]
Given the opioid crisis occurring in the United States and the uptick in complaints against pharmacists, I have recently defended pharmacists accused of violations here in Kansas. As someone who actually provided legal advice to medical boards in the past, I can also tell you that I have seen well-meaning professionals have their lives destroyed […]
Receiving a certified letter from your state licensing board indicating that they are opening an investigation into your performance as a nurse is a harrowing experience. Most nurses I know go through several stages of emotion—terror, embarrassment, anger, and fear are all common. I have helped hundreds of similarly situated nurses through this process and […]
Chiropractors are a vital part of the medical community. That said, like any other medical professional, they face scrutiny from licensing boards and have false allegations made against them from time to time. They are obviously human as well and are susceptible to mistakes in judgment. I have much enjoyed my representation of chiropractors, and […]
I have seen physician’s lives and careers devastated because they agreed to a “voluntary suspension” of their medical license or a restriction on their license while the medical board investigates allegations of misconduct. While the physician under investigation believed that the voluntary suspension would be brief and that it would put them in a good […]
In Kansas, it’s called a DUI. In Missouri, it’s called a DWI. Either way, it can spell big problems for your career as a medical professional. I have helped many medical professionals through the licensure and employment issues associated with an arrest for driving while impaired and can help you as well. But too many […]
Medical professionals often come to my office for a consultation and one of the first questions they ask is “is this a criminal or civil?” I don’t blame them for being confused, as depending on the conduct in question, it could end up being civil, criminal, or both. Because I so often get questions about […]
Professionals sometimes come to me with questions about “pleading the Fifth” in their hearings before licensing boards in Missouri. This concept comes into play when testifying truthfully might subject the testifier to criminal charges. While the U.S. Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to protect themselves from self-incrimination, Fifth Amendment protections are not a panacea. […]
I have seen this scene play out over and over—a dejected nurse sitting in my office holding a crumpled notice of investigation clenched in her hand. The feeling she feels is not only dejection but also betrayal. The sense of betrayal arises from the fact that the nurse’s former employer allowed her to resign and […]
The United States Constitution prohibits the state from taking your property without “due process,” which means that the state has to legally prove its case after giving you a chance to review the evidence against you and defend yourself. This due process requirement is not only in place when the state wants to take physical […]