IS YOUR MEDICAL LICENSE IN TROUBLE?

Criminal charges can cause medical providers to lose their freedom and their livelihood. While not every charge is a risk to your medical license, many are, and that is a scary thing to consider. However, while a charge can be scary, your situation may not be as dire as you initially thought.

WHAT CHARGES WILLCAUSE ME TO LOSE MYLICENSE?

There are three classes of charge that can lead to the loss of your medical license. As related by the Florida Board of Medicine, you can lose your license if convicted of a number of offenses, including:

Health care fraud: This is of special interest to the health board. If a person has a history of defrauding an insurance provider, this is an ethical concern that the state will not ignore.

Fraud: While less specific to health care directly, doctors and nurses have a great deal of information about people. It is a place of trust, and a person who misuses trust is not an effective medical provider.

Drug charges: Because of the access a person may have to controlled substances, the state sees any conviction for drug use as disqualifying for medical licensing.

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However, simply because you face a charge in these areas does not mean you will lose your license.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU FACE CHARGES

You have several opportunities if you face a charge that may offer you some opportunity to maintain your medical license. While there are no guarantees, you are not without hope. The critical thing to remember here is that it is a conviction that matters, not an arrest.

Facing an accusation of a serious crime is a difficult thing, but it is still only an accusation. You and your attorney have a long way to go before the end, and you have several options available to you.