What Can Lead to a Doctor Losing His License to Practice Medicine?

Doctors work very hard to earn their professional credentials. In addition to completing years of rigorous training in medical school, medical professionals also must complete residency requirements and pass board exams in order to be permitted to practice medicine.

Once they have become qualified, doctors are required to abide by rules and regulations governing their profession. Failure to do so could result in the suspension or revocation of a medical license. The loss of a medical license can be devastating, as it can destroy a reputation and end a career that a doctor has spent years of training for.

If your license is at risk, it is imperative that you consult with a Maryland medical license defense attorney to find out what options you have to fight for your professional future.

Top Reasons Doctors Lose Their Licenses

Medical professionals could be subject to disciplinary action, including the loss of their license, for many different reasons. Some of the most common reasons why doctors might lose their license to practice medicine include:

• Sexual misconduct: Doctors are not allowed to engage in inappropriate sexual relationships with their patients, to make sexual advances, or to sexually assault patients under the guise of providing medical care.
• Abuse of patients: Doctors who are physically, emotionally or financially abusive towards patients could lose their right to practice medicine.
• Criminal convictions: Conviction for certain types of criminal offenses could affect a doctor’s ability to maintain his or her professional license.
• Fraud or misrepresentation: Doctors could potentially face the loss of their license for insurance fraud or other types of fraudulent and unethical conduct in their personal or professional lives.
• Failure to keep proper records: Doctors are expected to maintain medical records for patients and repeated violations of record-keeping requirements could result in discipline up-to-and-including the loss of a medical license.
• Practicing without a license: Doctors are expected to understand where their medical licenses entitle them to practice and the types of medical services they can provide in different circumstances. Practicing medicine without a license can result in sanctions and potentially the suspension or revocation of a license.
• Medication violations: Doctors are entrusted with the responsibility to dispense medications in an appropriate manner. Doctors who dispense or administer medications outside of their scope or who are irresponsible about prescribing – such as doctors who hand out prescriptions for opioids without medical justification – can be subject to disciplinary action. Doctors must also keep appropriate records regarding prescriptions.

These are just some of many reasons why medical professionals could be at risk of losing their medical licenses. If you are accused of any type of wrongdoing that could result in your medical license being put at risk, you should contact a Maryland medical license defense attorney for help as soon as possible. You’ve worked too hard to lose your license without a fight, so get a committed advocate on your side to help. Call The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, L.L.C. at 410-514-6099 today or contact us online.