So, your medical license has been suspended. The good news is that it hasn't been revoked. The bad news is that you need to keep up to date with an industry in which you cannot currently work. One of the questions attorneys are asked on a regular basis is whether a physician with a suspended medical license can attend medical conferences, seminars, retreats, and the like. These are worthwhile events that keep you informed and motivated while you wait for your suspension to be lifted or expire. But many suspended practitioners are concerned that by attending one of these events, they may be in violation of state or federal rules or regulations regarding what a suspended doctor can do and what they cannot. While there is no easy answer to this question, attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm are there to guide you through the process.

State by State Basis

Licensure and disciplinary matters are generally regulated by the state where your license has been issued. Accordingly, what may be perfectly acceptable in New Jersey could end up getting you into hot water in New York. The Lento Law Firm is experienced and knowledgeable in guiding you through the applicable licensing laws in your state. Additionally, Joseph D. Lento can provide you specific guidance on what you are and are not permitted to do under suspension, depending on the state that issued your license.

What Type of Conference

The term “medical conference” can mean many different things. For instance, is a medical technology expo a medical conference? What about specialty organizations? Clinical conferences? Here the devil is in the details. Generally, if a conference is open to the public, anyone can go, including physicians with suspended licenses. The confusion becomes more apparent when the conference is NOT open to the public but is only admissible to those with active licenses, medical students, or retired practitioners. This is a grey area where making a mistake could affect the terms of your suspension. The Lento Law Firm takes pride in guiding you through that grey area so that you don't further jeopardize your license.

Other Important Issues

These are just a few of the numerous issues that arise when a physician's license is suspended. Things become even more confusing if your state's medical authority requires you to keep attending continuing medical education (CME) courses for a certain number of hours in order to lift your suspension. In those cases, you must attend pre-qualified events in order to avoid license revocation. But that leads to other questions: What conferences suffice? Must you alert the conference organizers that you have a suspended license?

Many times, the state regulators will give you guidance on these topics, but not always. Even when they do, the rule or regulation they point you to may be difficult to understand. To assure you're following your state's rules and regulations, reach out to attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm online or call us at 888-535-3686.