Nursing boards take charges of neglect extremely seriously, as the case of Yesenia Adi Chavez illustrates. Ms. Adi Chavez was a nursing assistant in Washington state whose license was suspended after one of her home care cancer patients wound up in the hospital with sepsis. Unfortunately, after returning home, the patient died. Some ten years earlier, another of Adi Chavez's patients died as well, apparently from neglect. In addition to having her license suspended, Ms. Adi Chavez faced legal action from the Washington State Nursing Assistant Program.

If you should find yourself facing charges like these, you can't afford to take them lightly. At a minimum, they can put your license in jeopardy. Trust your license—your career—to the Lento Law Firm. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know the law. They know your rights. And they're prepared to do whatever it takes to protect you and get you the very best possible resolution to your case. To find out more, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 today or use the automated online form.

A Rush to Judgment

It's impossible to say whether Ms. Adi Chavez is guilty of neglect or not based solely on a newspaper article without affording her a full hearing and the chance to present evidence of her innocence.

What is clear is that state departments of health and healthcare boards around the country have little tolerance for neglect. Under pressure from politicians and advocacy groups, they act quickly—in some cases, perhaps too quickly—to address allegations. Ms. Adi Chavez's license was immediately suspended, and her name wound up on the evening news before anyone bothered to conduct an investigation or to hold a hearing.

The Washington State Nursing Assistant Program's decisions fly in the face of the basic due process rights we take for granted in this country, such as the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. True, a licensing board is not the same as a court of law, but by condemning Ms. Adi Chavez before allowing her to defend herself at a hearing before the board, and by making comments about her case to media outlets, this program has essentially guaranteed she cannot get fair treatment.

These days, though, if you want your rights before a professional licensing board, you often have to demand them. That means hiring the best representation you can. There's no way to know how Ms. Adi Chavez's case might have turned out if she'd had attorneys from the Lento Law Firm on her side, but it's certainly true that the Lento Law Firm starts working for you the moment you are charged. We can work to convince the board not to suspend you prematurely; we can help you answer investigator questions; we can represent you at any hearings; and we can help you deal with any press issues.

In fact, the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team can begin working for you even before you're accused. The moment you suspect someone might level an accusation against you, it's important you act. We'll be there for you at your hearing, of course, from helping develop your defense strategy to collecting evidence of your innocence to making sure you're treated fairly by investigators.

To find out more about how we can help you, call 888-535-3686 today or use the automated online form.