Have Ethical Questions About Your Kansas Profession? How an Attorney Can Help

/in /by

Being a Kansas professional raises a lot of ethical concerns that you may come across on any given day.  There may come a time when you face an issue that requires you to make a judgment call that you may second-guess over and over in your head.  When it comes to tough questions that you are unsure how to answer or address, it is important that you seek out resources to determine whether or not your actions are ethical.  Otherwise, the issue will become a broken record that you may not be able to deal with on your own.

For example, if you are a personal injury attorney and you are unsure of whether or not you can withhold certain information from your client, it is essential to consult with the rules of professional conduct as well as speak with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney.  While not every professional license defense attorney is considered an expert on ethical issues, this attorney can still provide you with the guidance you need to make an informed decision that will protect both the attorney’s and the client’s rights and interests.

Why Be Ashamed of Contacting an Attorney?

If you are in a professional field other than law, it is understandable that you may feel uneasy about contacting an attorney.  After all, some people view attorneys in a negative light, so it is not surprising that these people are hesitant to speak with a legal professional.  If you are a dentist or physician, for example, you may face a situation where you believe a patient may blame you for unsatisfactory care or malpractice.  Many healthcare professionals panic when they come across an unhappy patient.  While there are certainly instances where healthcare professionals have committed malpractice that caused physical injuries to a patient, more often than not, a patient’s complaints are unfounded.

However, in order to know for sure how a particular situation may pan out, you should discuss your situation with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney armed with the specific skills and resources you need to feel rest assured that you are making the most ethical decisions possible.  By speaking with an attorney, you will not only have your questions answered and your concerns addressed, but you will also know how to approach situations in the future that present ethical dilemmas.  The only way to overcome an issue is to learn how to go through the process at some point.  It is better to work alongside an attorney than wonder on your own whether or not you are making ethical decisions as a Kansas professional.

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

Speaking with an attorney is in no way an admission of guilt or wrongdoing.  Attorneys represent clients in a variety of capacities, including pure consultation.  A Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney has the information and resources to provide much-needed advice to many Kansas professionals from all walks of life.  This attorney is not only limited to situations where your Kansas professional license may be at risk.  At the Sanger Law Office, Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger provides guidance to clients in addition to helping other clients fight to keep their professional licenses.  Regardless of what particular legal service you may need, Danielle Sanger has well-rounded experience that sets her apart from the rest.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger can approach each client’s situation from all perspectives.  This enables her to ensure that her clients’ needs and wishes are fulfilled.  If you would like to schedule a free consultation to speak with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

How Social Media Can Impact Your Kansas Professional License

/in /by

Each day it seems as though a new social media website has come into existence.  Most of us are aware of the most popular sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Social media allows us to share our thoughts and photographs, as well as view postings and photographs of other users.  While sharing information on social media sites seems to be relatively harmless, especially if you have controlled which individuals are able to view your profile, social media has still become a scary thing for many individuals.  After all, any individual can create an account, upload a picture, and call him or herself a certain name, and you may never know what that individual’s true identity is.

Aside from the general fears of sharing personal information on social media websites, certain Kansas professionals must be overly cautious when deciding to participate in social media in some way.  Anything you post, and any photograph you upload could come back to haunt any Kansas professional, regardless of whether certain privacy settings are in place.  For example, if a Kansas licensed physician has posted a photograph of him or herself getting drunk, he or she may not have broken the law by drinking (and posting the photograph), however, he or she may have raised questions by clients and/or patients as to the physician’s ability to do his or her job, when those clients and/or patients have come across the posting themselves.

Kansas professionals are people just like anyone else.  However, they are held to a higher standard that is regulated.  What may no big deal for the average individual could be significant for a Kansas attorney, or Kansas chiropractor, for example.  As such, social media is something to be wary of and used in a way that will not impact your ability to continue working in your designated Kansas profession.

What’s at Stake        

Your professional license and reputation are on the line at all times, and your life is often termed an open book when you hold yourself out as a Kansas professional who helps clients or patients in some way.  Even what may seem to be a benign posting about a joke could turn out to be something that offends a great number of your clientele or patients.

If you ultimately face the loss of your Kansas professional license, you not only have to deal with the stress of fighting to keep your license, but also the stress of dealing with rumors that may be untrue, and/or dealing with the financial cost of no longer being able to work in your designated field.  Social media has helped shape today’s culture in many ways, and while there are certainly some positive aspects of social media, there are countless ways in which social media can have a negative impact on your profession.

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

Social media has changed the rules and customs of much of our way of life, and it is difficult for many professions to keep up with such extensive and fast change.  If you are facing the potential loss of your Kansas professional license, the first thing you should do is consult with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office has devoted a significant portion of her career to helping Kansas professionals fight allegations and disciplinary action that may result in the loss of their professional licenses.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger knows what to expect from any Kansas professional licensing board, regardless of what your particular profession is.  Speaking with an attorney about your situation in no way is an admission of fault or guilt.  In fact, speaking with an attorney is one of the best decisions you can make to protect your career.  To schedule your free consultation with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Veterinary Professionals – The Importance of Having a Sterile Environment

/in /by

It goes without saying that a sterile environment is essential for any healthcare facility, and animal hospitals and veterinary clinics are no exception.  Even though it may seem like a basic task to keep an animal hospital or veterinary clinic sterile, many Kansas veterinary professionals, whether intentional or not, make mistakes that could result in the spread of infection from animal to animal.  For example, forgetting to place a used needle in a biohazard container could result in an animal coming into contact with that needle.  Any germs on the needle have now passed to the animal, placing the animal at risk for contracting a harmful infection.

The Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners places significant importance on having a clean and sterile environment to treat animals in need of care.  If failure to maintain a sterile environment results in harm to any particular animal, the Board may have grounds for imposing disciplinary action, which may be very minor, but has the potential to be very serious as well.  Whether a pet’s owner files a complaint with the Board, or a fellow employee notifies the Board, for example, an individual faces scrutiny that could place his or her Kansas professional license at risk for suspension or even revocation.

Are You Facing Allegations by the Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners?

If you have received notice of a complaint regarding unsterile conditions at your animal hospital or animal clinic, it is imperative to act quickly.  While some veterinary professionals place absolutely no emphasis on the need to have a sterile environment, many veterinary professionals do their best to keep a sterile environment, and sometimes just make mistakes, such as the example discussed above regarding the discarded needle.  In such cases, it cannot be stressed enough how crucial it is that you have a legal professional working alongside you to defend your rights and interests.

You have worked too long and too hard to lose your Kansas veterinary license over something that could have been avoided.  Perhaps you were in the wrong place at the wrong time and did not really do anything to substantiate an allegation of having an unsterile environment.  However, by simply offering services as a veterinary professional in an animal hospital or veterinary clinic, you are held responsible regardless of if you are individually responsible for one small mistake.  With the assistance of an attorney, you will be able to build a defense that demonstrates that you do not deserve to lose your Kansas professional license.  Having the right attorney can be the key difference between a successful and unsuccessful attempt to keep your Kansas professional license.

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

Whether you are facing the potential loss of your professional license, or if you simply have questions about what can put your license at risk, you should consult with a legal professional as soon as possible.  When your career is on the line, it is essential to have an advocate standing by your side.  At the Sanger Law Office, Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger is a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas who helps veterinary professionals as well as all other types of Kansas professionals fight to keep their licenses.  No matter what the reason may be for why your license is at risk, you deserve strong legal representation.  Danielle Sanger utilizes her well-rounded experience, dedication and advocacy skills to ensure her clients have the best chance possible of avoiding the suspension or revocation of their professional licenses.  If you would like to speak with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353 to schedule your free consultation.

Kansas Healthcare Providers – Understanding New Restrictions on Some Prescription Medications

/in /by

This past October, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reclassified certain hydrocodone pain medications from Schedule III to Schedule II.  This reclassification has placed certain restrictions on how and when physicians can prescribe pain medication subject to this rule change.  While the Kansas Board of Healing Arts seeks to keep all Kansas healthcare professionals apprised of rule changes, it is sometimes difficult to stay on top of rule changes that seem to occur left and right.

Whether you are a physician, a nurse practitioner, a physician’s assistant, or any other healthcare professional in the state of Kansas, you play a role in the quality healthcare that patients receive.  Even if you do not have the authority to write prescription medication for patients, you must be aware of all rules related to prescription practices.  If you are not aware of rule changes such as the reclassification of certain hydrocodone pain medications, the greater the chance is that you could make a mistake when ordering and/or administering medication.

For example, if you call-in or fax a Schedule II hydrocodone medication prescription to a pharmacy, you are violating the new rule change that prescriptions for applicable hydrocodone medication must be in written form only and taken directly to a pharmacy.  While it is highly unlikely that you will lose your Kansas professional license for making a common mistake associated with rule changes, it is still a good example to demonstrate that rules can have a significant impact on how you administer healthcare, and what you must do to adapt your practices to the rule changes.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

In order to avoid those small mistakes that have the potential to violate rule changes, you should be proactive in reviewing literature, reviewing the FDA and DEA websites, collaborating with fellow healthcare professionals, and seeking information or advice from the Kansas Board of Healing Arts.  There are numerous ways to ensure you are a step ahead.  Simply keeping yourself up to date will minimize the chances that you will be at risk for losing your Kansas professional license due to a rule violation involving the prescription of certain hydrocodone medications, or anything else for that matter.

To even further protect yourself, you may consider consulting with an attorney who can provide you with definitive information as to what conduct may cause you to face the potential loss of your professional license.  Knowledge is power, and the more you are able to learn from various sources, the less likely you are to violate a rule such as the rule change implemented by the DEA regarding prescription practices for certain hydrocodone medications.

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

If you are a Kansas healthcare professional, you know all too well that patients heavily rely on the information they receive from you.  Given that restrictions on certain prescription medications have strengthened, you need to be even more aware of the limitations you have on when and how much of a particular medication to prescribe.  Many law-abiding and ethical Kansas medical professionals have faced the potential loss of their professional license for one reason or another.  Regardless of how minor or serious your situation may seem to be, it is crucial to consider speaking with a qualified Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney right away.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office devotes her law practice to helping Kansas professionals fight to keep their hard-earned professional licenses.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger has prosecutorial experience that enables her to provide her clients with well-rounded and superior legal representation.  To schedule your free consultation with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Attorneys – Proper Supervision of Legal Staff Members

/in /by

As a Kansas attorney, you are held responsible for the acts of your support staff members, such as paralegals, legal assistants, legal secretaries, and project assistants, among others. In order to run a functioning office, it is essential to have enough legal staff members to keep the system going, and to provide clients with any requested information.  However, along with having legal staff members work for you comes the obligation to oversee each staff member’s conduct.  It is nearly impossible to watch every person’s every move, so there are steps you can take to ensure your legal staff members have an understanding of what their roles are, and how their conduct is ultimately subject to the professional rules of conduct for attorneys.

Do What You Can to Protect Your Kansas Law License

It isn’t always possible to avoid every imaginable mistake, whether it is a calendaring error, or failure to submit the proper paperwork for an individual case.  However, if you have a system in place to regulate each staff member’s conduct, this will help to ensure you have placed checks on what your legal staff members can and cannot do.  The supervision process takes the active involvement of both attorneys and legal staff members.  If the staff members are aware of just how crucial their role is, and that certain things can put a supervising attorney’s Kansas law license at risk, then they are more likely to follow the rules and take their own additional steps to ensure they do not make those small, yet costly mistakes.

In order to increase the chances that your legal staff members will avoid conduct that could cost you your law license, it is first important to make sure that all legal staff members know what their roles are, and know the limits of their power.  Such information may be communicated by office memorandums, emails, and team meetings.  For example, a supervising attorney may suggest that all legal staff members come up with a calendaring system that will maintain key dates and provide reminders for when those dates come close to being due.  Calendaring is one of the biggest issues law firms have, and if you can rely on legal staff members to have a smooth calendaring system, you are reducing the risk that you will be exposed to liability for missing a very important deadline.

Further, repeating key information should never be frowned upon because we could all use a refresher course from time to time when it comes to the rules of professional conduct that govern Kansas attorneys.  Many people are of the mind that if they have learned something once, then they will never have go back and relearn that “something” again.  While completely relearning an entire concept may not be necessary, reminders about what the rules are and how violating the rules can harm your career do nothing but help you avoid those unnecessary small mistakes that have cost many Kansas attorneys their law licenses.

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

While legal staff members play an integral role in the success of a law firm, they must be monitored closely to ensure their conduct in no way puts your Kansas law license at risk.  Even a small mistake could result in the potential loss or suspension of your law license.  If your Kansas law license is at risk, you should consider speaking with a seasoned Kansas Professional Licensing Defense Attorney as soon as possible.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office is an experienced and dedicated Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney who has helped numerous fellow Kansas Attorneys face the potential loss of their law licenses.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger has a unique perspective not shared by many other professional license defense attorneys.  If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Danielle Sanger to discuss your situation, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Dental Laboratories – Meeting Safety and Health Standards

/in /by

Dental laboratories are part of this state’s healthcare system, playing a vital role in the delivery of dental care to patients all across the state of Kansas.  As is the case with many professions, dental laboratories must follow both state and federal regulations regarding health and safety standards that must be met.  It is not uncommon for business owners and/or employees to face the loss of their professional licenses for failure to follow rules and regulations promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  There are countless ways to violate OSHA rules and regulations, and it isn’t always easy to keep track of all rules, especially when rules frequently change.

Common OSHA Violations Dental Laboratories Face

Dental laboratories may be cited by both the state and federal government in a variety of situations including, but certainly not limited to, the following:

  • Violation of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) – Many dental laboratories have received citations for failing to communicate safety hazards regarding any chemicals manufactured in the laboratory.  OSHA requires that material data safety sheets (MSDSs) must be made apparent to employees, and such employees must be instructed on how to properly handle the chemicals.
  • Failure to Have Respiratory Protection for Employees – Dental laboratories may receive a citation for failing to provide required respiratory protection for employees exposed to air pollutants.
  • Failure to Have Personal Protective Equipment – Dental laboratories are required to evaluate the safety needs within the lab that will require employees to wear certain protective equipment.  For example, employees in all dental laboratories should be wearing safety eyewear as flying objects are always a possibility when working with tools and materials.  Failure to provide such protective equipment will result in a violation that could be costly if an employee is ever injured.

Regardless of whether you are a dental laboratory owner, or are an employee, it is important that you are aware of what consequences you may be facing for OSHA violations.  Individual violations are not likely to result in the loss of a Kansas professional license, however, if there are repeated violations with no improvement, or if the situation that resulted in a citation was very hazardous to human safety and health, then it is possible that an individual may face the loss of his or her professional license.  As such, no matter how serious the matter may be, speaking with an attorney about your situation is essential to understanding what your rights and obligations are.  With the help of an attorney, you will not be in the dark, and you will have someone working hard to help you keep your Kansas professional license.

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

Even the simplest safety violation has the potential to put your professional license at risk.  If you are facing disciplinary action and/or you believe your license may be at risk, it is important that you speak with a skilled Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney as soon as possible.  Seeking the help of an attorney is not an admission that you have committed any wrongdoing.  Regardless of how meritless an accusation or citation may be, having a strong advocate by your side is essential to keeping your Kansas professional license.  Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office devotes her law practice to helping Kansas professionals keep their licenses.  As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger has a true understanding of what it takes to successfully fight for your professional license.  If you would like to speak with Danielle Sanger about your situation, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353 to schedule your free consultation.

Kansas Healthcare Professionals – Will the Ebola Outbreak Result in Tougher Regulations?

/in /by

The Ebola outbreak that has led to thousands of deaths so far this year has caused United States healthcare workers to question whether or not the current health and safety measures in place are sufficient to protect us from Ebola.  The United States is known for having superior healthcare facilities with the ability to offer round-the-clock care that many other countries simply do not have.  However, the recent incident in Texas where two nurses contracted Ebola has resulted in a reassessment of the current policies and procedures in place and whether or not such procedures are good enough.

We Still Have Much to Learn

While the Ebola virus has been widely known, we have not yet had a reason to learn more about the virus and its transmission from one person to another.  Current regulations in place that govern health and safety procedures may not be sufficient to handle a deadly virus like Ebola.  Many Kansas healthcare professionals face citations on a regular basis for failing to adhere to health and safety regulations, so it can be expected that as new regulations come into place, healthcare professionals may be scrutinized even more closely.

Repeated health and safety violations have the potential to result in the loss of a Kansas healthcare professional license.  As such, it is imperative that all Kansas healthcare professionals stay up to date on the changes in rules and regulations in order to avoid the imposition of citations or the potential loss of a professional license.  Healthcare professionals always have to act quickly to learn new rules and regulations so that they are doing everything in their power to adhere to new practices.  This isn’t always easy, and some healthcare professionals have trouble with change, resulting in disciplinary action and/or the loss of their professional license for violating safety rules and regulations.

Facing the loss of your professional license is something that makes your future uncertain, as you do not know how the Kansas Board of Healing Arts will react to your particular case.  Losing your license does not necessarily mean you will never be able to legally practice as a Kansas healthcare professional in the future; however, the consequences of losing your license will certainly have negative affects for the foreseeable future.

It may not seem fair that Kansas healthcare professionals have faced the loss of their professional licenses for what seem to be minor safety violations.  But, rules and regulations are taken very seriously and there are usually very few exceptions to any of these rules or regulations.  The best thing you can do if you are facing the loss of your license is to investigate your options for fighting to keep your license and being able to continue practicing as a Kansas healthcare professional for years to come.

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

If you are a Kansas healthcare professional, and your license is at risk, it is essential that you speak with a qualified Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney with the experience and skill needed to provide superior legal representation.  Facing the potential loss of your Kansas professional license is surely a stressful and frightening experience.  No matter what the reason may be for why your license is at risk, you deserve to have a dedicated attorney review your case and guide you through the process of overcoming your tough situation.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office is a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney who helps Kansas professionals fight to keep their licenses on a regular basis.  Danielle Sanger is a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, with unique knowledge and experience that many other attorneys do not possess.  To discuss your situation with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today to schedule your free consultation by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Attorneys – False Advertising and Your Law License

/in /by

As Kansas attorneys, we understand that we must meet a certain standard of ethical conduct.  However, it is sometimes difficult to determine if certain conduct is unethical, especially when it comes to attorney advertising.  There is a thin line between truthful advertising and “puffery” that may be considered false advertising.  For example, making statements that border on the line of guarantees or assurances can put your Kansas law license at risk.  This is because potential clients often misinterpret information they come across, and if there is a chance that a large number of potential clients will interpret your advertising to be a guarantee of certain results, this is bordering the line between ethical and unethical advertising.

Advertising Statements to Stay Away From

Whether you are advertising your legal services through a website, newspaper, yellow pages, or television, you need to be very careful with the statements you make such that there can be no mistake as to what your message is.  Stay away from words that elicit messages that guarantee satisfaction with your legal services, messages that guarantee certain results, and/or messages that suggest you are a specialist in a particular area of law, when in fact you are not a specialist.  It is not uncommon for attorney advertisements to be misinterpreted, as the entire idea of advertising is attraction, and many other industries are allowed to embellish in their advertisements.

However, with attorney advertising, even one word can get you into trouble.  As such, attorneys should consider using words or phrases that represent the attorney’s experience, reputation, and success that are backed up with some form of documentation.  For example, if you are a personal injury attorney with a successful trial record, you can back this statement up by showing your win/loss record, and/or showing how many plaintiff verdicts you have won, something that cannot be disputed.  It is always best to put yourself in the shoes of any potential client to truly understand what others interpret your statements to mean.  If there’s any ambiguity, you may consider adjusting the advertising statements so that only one conclusion or meaning can be reached.

Potential Consequences of False Advertising

Anyone can file a disciplinary complaint against a Kansas attorney, and while many of these complaints turn out to be meritless, the Kansas Office of Disciplinary Administrator will certainly take a look at the attorney’s advertising practices.  It’s even possible that another attorney, judge, legal staff member, or anyone else may file a complaint against you if there are concerns your advertising is false or deceptive in some way.  If the Kansas Office of Disciplinary Administrator believes you have falsely or deceptively advertised your legal services, you may be at risk for one or more of the following:

  • Temporary suspension of your Kansas law license;
  • Private or public reprimand; or
  • The loss of your Kansas law license.

All situations are different, and the specific conduct at issue will play a role in how severe the penalties may be.  However, it is important to remember that many allegations are not investigated, and if they are investigated, they may be dropped if there is often insufficient evidence to prove attorneys have falsely advertised your legal services.  To have a better understanding of what you may be dealing with, it is a good idea to speak with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney.

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

As a Kansas attorney, you do your best to follow the rules and provide your clients with the best legal representation possible.  However, there are situations where mistakes in advertising have cost attorneys their license, or at least resulted in disciplinary action that places restrictions on an attorney’s license to practice law.  Allegations of false advertising, whether true or not, can be detrimental to your reputation if you are ultimately disciplined.  As such, you need to work with a fellow advocate to ensure you have the best defense possible to the allegations of false advertising.  Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office has the experience and skill to help you overcome a tough situation that has become a hindrance on your legal career.  To schedule your free consultation to discuss your situation with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Medical Professionals – Ensuring Your Patients Understand Your Billing Policies

/in /by

One of the biggest quibbles patients have with their healthcare providers is over the legitimacy of a bill.  We all know just how expensive healthcare can be, and it is unlikely that patients have the ability to pay all of their medical bills without health insurance.  Even with health insurance, patients are still stuck paying a significant portion of their medical expenses in the form of deductibles, co-pays for office visits, and the cost of prescription medication.  Because many patients do have difficulty managing their medical expenses, it is no wonder that they are more meticulous when it comes to reviewing bills they have received from healthcare providers.

Managing Patient Billing Disputes

When a patient comes into your office (or calls your office) to question a particular bill, it is always important to first make sure the patient is aware of your billing policies.  While most healthcare providers have language in the initial paperwork given to patients that specifically define the provider’s billing policies, many patients claim to not understand the policies, or indicate that they do not remember agreeing to such policies.  One way to address this issue is to not only ensure the patient reads the billing policies, and signs an acknowledgement form, but to also have a verbal discussion with the patient to confirm that there is a full and complete understanding of the billing policies.

Even if your billing policies are clear, patients may still complain about the cost and will simply state that they are unable to pay.  In such cases, it is a good idea to work with the patient to formulate a payment plan that best suits the patients.  Even if a patient is only able to make a small monthly payment towards his or her balance, this is something that helps your practice collect past due payments, but it also provides patients with peace of mind that they can continue to receive care and not worry about a looming medical bill.

Further, to make clear to your patients that billing policies are important, and to better inform your patients about the care they are receiving, some healthcare providers have considered itemizing medical bills in greater detail.  This is not unlike the explanation of benefits patients receive from their medical insurance providers; however, when patients receive such detailed information from their medical providers, they may be less inclined to dispute the legitimacy of a particular bill.  Overall, open communication with your patients regarding billing policies is essential, and while there will always be those few patients that complain, the majority of patients will understand what is expected of them.

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

If you are a medical professional, you likely know just how frustrating and stressful billing matters can be.  Some patients may even complain to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts if they are unhappy with a particular medical provider.  Oftentimes, complaints are without merit; however, it is essential to have a strong advocate by your side if you are facing a complaint.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office is a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney who has the experience and skill you need to fight any complaint or disciplinary action.  Ms. Sanger has helped numerous clients keep their Kansas professional licenses, and as a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, she knows what to expect from those in charge of investigating complaints and other allegations of misconduct.  If you are facing the potential loss of your professional license, it is crucial that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible.  Danielle Sanger has the resources and dedication to help you overcome a very challenging time.  To speak with Ms. Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office to schedule your free consultation by calling (785) 979-4353.

Kansas Teachers – Knowing When to Draw the Line

/in /by

Over the past decade, many teachers across the country have been disciplined, and even arrested in some cases, for having inappropriate sexual relations with students.  Most of these occurrences involve high school teachers and high school students; however, there have been some cases where middle school teachers and students have had inappropriate sexual relations.

While many teachers have certainly crossed the line by having a sexual relationship with a student, there are also situations where allegations may be untrue or grossly exaggerated.  If a student reports that an inappropriate relationship exists between a student and a teacher, school administration officials will take such allegations very seriously, even if there is evidence to suggest no relationship exists.  It is frustrating and unfortunate that many teachers are falsely accused of such serious and inappropriate conduct year after year.

Do What You Can to Protect Yourself

Many teachers accused of having inappropriate sexual relations with a student are well-liked by the majority of the student body.  When a teacher is well-liked, students may feel more comfortable speaking with that teacher.  Along with this comfort comes the possibility that a student may take something the wrong way.  A teacher’s kindness can sometimes be misinterpreted for affection, and when a teacher does not welcome a student’s inappropriate passes, that student may become upset and retaliatory.

While teachers should certainly not compromise their work ethic or alter the overall nature of their relationships with students, there are a few steps teachers can take to reduce the risk that they may be accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.  Such steps include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Have a class-wide conversation with students to discuss the importance of healthy student-teacher relationships, and why it is important that such relationships never go beyond anything more than teacher and student;
  • When speaking with a student individually, teachers should do so during normal school hours, such as right before, during, or right after the school day has ended, and not in the late evenings or weekends;
  • Minimize your discussion with students to school-related matters as much as possible;
  • Avoid having one-on-one discussions with students in an empty classroom with the door shut, where no witnesses are nearby; and
  • Be cognizant of the “rumors” you hear from students, as rumors are often how false allegations erupt.

There is no easy way to prevent the chance that you may be falsely accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student.  However, if you take small, realistic measures, such as those described above, you will be better able to handle false allegations in the future, whether those allegations are against you or another teacher.  Documentation is everything, so it is important to keep a record of any meetings you have with students.  Such documentation will help down the road should an investigation unfold.

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

If you are a Kansas teacher facing disciplinary charges, it is essential that you retain a highly skilled Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney.  The Kansas State Department of Education takes all complaints very seriously, especially in situations where a child may be involved.  Regardless of whether or not disciplinary action by the Kansas State Department of Education is legitimate, it is vital that you have an attorney by your side ready to defend your rights and help you keep your Kansas teaching license.  Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office is a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas who now devotes her law practice to representing Kansas professionals who are facing the potential loss of their licenses.  If you would like to speak with Ms. Sanger about your situation, contact the Sanger Law Office today to schedule your free consultation by calling (785) 979-4353.