Your professional license is a badge of honor. It shows your clients, customers, and colleagues that the Kansas agency overseeing your profession has vetted you and you have met all the requirements to work in your chosen field. It demonstrates that you have specific knowledge or skill in your field and take your work seriously enough to undergo the rigorous training and education required. It builds trust among your customers, clients, or patients.
When someone files a complaint that threatens your professional license, it's a punch to the gut. An attack. A personal affront. You are facing weeks, possibly months, of going through the process of defending your license. If things don't go your way, your license could be suspended or revoked, and your very livelihood ripped out from under you.
Never take a threat to your professional license lightly. Be proactive in defending your name and professional license. Contact Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his experienced Professional License Defense Team today by calling 888-535-3686.
The Professional License Defense Attorney You Need in Kansas: The Lento Law Firm
If you have been charged with professional misconduct and are facing disciplinary action from any professional board in Kansas, you need the experience of The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team. We represent licensed professionals throughout Kansas, including Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, Overland Park, Lawrence, Manhattan, Olathe, and more.
The sooner you call us, the sooner we can begin building a strong case in your defense. We look for weaknesses in the complaint against you, review any evidence the board presents, including police reports or witness testimony, and guide you throughout the entire disciplinary process. Whether you are a physician in one of Kansas' 124 community hospitals or an English teacher in one of the state's 449 high schools, if you are facing a claim of professional misconduct, you need an experienced attorney on your side.
A member of the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team is standing by to discuss the details of your case and guide you through the process of defending your license in Kansas or anywhere else in the United States. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 and begin defending your license and your good name.
The Disciplinary Process for Licensed Professionals in Kansas
Several independent or state agencies oversee licensed occupations in Kansas, such as:
- Accountants
- Nursing home and assisted living facility administrators
- Athletic trainers
- Chiropractors
- Dental hygienists
- Massage therapists
- Environmental health specialists
- Homeopathic medicine providers
- Occupational therapists
- Pharmacists and pharmacies
- Private investigators
- Professional engineers
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Veterinarians
If a licensed professional is accused of professional misconduct, these governing bodies will launch an investigation and, depending on the evidence, have the authority to suspend or revoke your professional license. If the complaint is of a criminal nature can lead to criminal prosecution.
Each board may follow different procedures and guidelines when they receive a complaint, but they generally follow a similar process outlined below.
Complaint
A complaint gets the ball rolling as far as the disciplinary process for licensing boards. Anyone can file a complaint against you — other practitioners, colleagues, patients, clients, insurance companies, even court clerks if you've been convicted of a crime. Some boards allow anonymous complaints.
The board usually notifies you in writing about a complaint filed against you. The next steps in the disciplinary process can take weeks to months to play out.
Investigation
After the board receives your complaint, the members usually review it to see whether the claim violates the professional code. They'll also check to see that you are in their jurisdiction. If the board determines that the complaint is valid, the members will launch an investigation. That's when you usually receive notice of the complaint.
Investigators will review your professional records and interview you and possibly others at your workplace. The investigator will use this information to compile a report for the board, along with their recommendations. The board reviews this information and determines whether to close the complaint or pursue disciplinary action.
The minute you receive notice of a complaint, you should seek legal counsel. Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Lawyers can advise you on the best way to cooperate with investigators while helping you prepare a strong defense.
Consent Order and Other Possible Actions
If the board decides to take disciplinary action against you, the action they take can vary significantly depending on the board. The severity of the accusations against you will also play a role in how the acts. For example, if you are a doctor, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts may simply send you a Private Letter of Concern, which is the most lenient of the disciplinary actions the board might take.
However, the board will likely send you a Public Letter of Concern or a Consent Order, which is a negotiated agreement between you and the board. Either document may include disciplinary actions such as:
- Suspension of your professional license
- Revocation of your professional license
- Annulment of your professional license
If you choose not to accept the public action, you will have a hearing before the board. When negotiating a Consent Order with your licensing board, it is in your best interest to have an experienced lawyer on your side, such as Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his experienced Professional License Defense Team.
Hearing
While negotiating a Consent Order, the board will hold a hearing if you and the licensing board cannot reach an agreement. The hearing runs similarly to a legal trial. The board presents the evidence it has against you and you have the opportunity to respond to the accusations. The board will consider all information presented at the hearing to determine the best discipline in your case, which may include a Consent Order with a decision to suspend, revoke, or annul your professional license.
What Happens If I Lose My License?
If a Kansas licensing board decides to revoke your professional license, the repercussions are both immediate and long-lasting. Some examples of how losing your license can negatively impact you:
- Immediate loss of income. The minute the board pulls your license, you lose your right to work in your profession. You will likely not get a severance or be able to collect unemployment benefits. An immediate loss of income can quickly strain your finances as bills begin piling up, and collectors begin calling.
- Difficulty finding other work. You may be able to find work within your field that doesn't require a license. But a revoked license leaves a scar on your resume and your reputation, which may make it harder to build trust with potential employers and clients.
- Challenges getting reinstated. You may be able to reapply for your license; however, most licensing boards require you to sit out several years before they consider reinstating you. You will likely have to cut through a lot of red tape to get reinstated. And even if you follow the process to a T, there's no guarantee the board will reinstate you.
- Inability to get licensed in another state. A fresh start in a new state may sound appealing, but licensing boards will often check to see if you've had a previous license revocation.
- Damaged professional reputation. Having a complaint filed against you is bad enough, but getting your license revoked implies that the board found the evidence compelling enough to take action and punish you. Board disciplinary actions are a matter of public record, which scars your credibility. Even if the board reinstates your license, your colleagues and clients or patients may not be as forgiving.
Why You Need the Lento Law Firm to Help Your License
You worked hard to get your professional license. One complaint can topple your career in an instant. Don't fight this battle on your own when your professional livelihood and good name are at stake.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team have the expertise to obtain the best possible outcome in professional license defense cases. Our team of experienced attorneys can assist you in the following ways:
- Review your complaint, gather evidence, secure witness testimony, and recommend a strong defense strategy.
- Represent you in all interactions with the professional board and the investigators.
- Draft a strong response to the complaint to improve the chances of the board closing your complaint.
- Negotiate with the licensing board to dismiss the complaint or imposer lesser penalties.
- Negotiate the most favorable outcome in a consent agreement.
- Represent you in a formal hearing before the licensing board.
Offenses or Allegations that Might Jeopardize Your Professional License
Complaints made to licensing boards vary in severity. The more serious the complaint, the greater risk to your professional license. Some of the more serious accusations that could lead to disciplinary action include the following:
Fraudulent Practices
Committing fraud is a serious offense. Fraud is any action, omission, or misrepresentation done to knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead another person or entity for financial benefit or to avoid an obligation.
Examples of fraudulent practices include:
- Overbilling patients, clients, or insurance companies
- Billing for services not provided
- Accepting kickbacks for referrals
- Falsifying patient records to collect higher reimbursement from insurance companies
Abuse, Gross Negligence
Improperly treating or showing reckless disregard for the safety and lives of others is a serious offense that can result in disciplinary action.
Some examples of abuse or gross neglect include:
- Physical abuse, including sexual assault
- Emotional abuse, including threatening or berating someone in your care
- Violating patient confidentiality
- Medical errors, prescription errors, patient abandonment, and other forms of potential medical malpractice
Substance Abuse or Addiction
Misusing or abusing drugs or alcohol can alter judgment and is an especially grievous offense if a professional misuses a substance while on the job.
Sexual Misconduct/Inappropriate Relationships
When a healthcare professional enters into a sexual or romantic relationship with someone in their care, the professional is committing a serious ethical violation. Professionals may also face accusations of sexual misconduct, unwanted sexual advances, sexual harassment, or sexual assault from patients, clients, or co-workers. These are all serious accusations that the board will not take lightly.
Inappropriate Handling of Medications
Healthcare professionals could face severe penalties if the board finds them guilty of prescribing or dispensing medications irresponsibly or outside the scope of their professional license, incorrectly tracking medications, or stealing prescriptions for personal use.
Criminal Convictions
Professional boards will likely take action if a court has convicted you of a crime, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a crime of moral turpitude, or a crime related to your profession. In certain circumstances, a criminal court judge may prohibit you from practicing while your case is pending.
Licensed Professionals We Serve in Kansas
We represent licensed professionals throughout Kansas, including Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, Overland Park, Lawrence, Manhattan, Olathe, and throughout the Sunflower State. We have experience with all professional licensing boards in Kansas, including:
- Kansas Board of Accountancy
- Kansas Department of Health & Environment
- Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
- Kansas Board of Nursing
- Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board
- Kansas Department of Revenue
- Kansas Board of Pharmacy
- Board of Emergency Services
- Kansas Department of Agriculture
- Real Estate Appraisal Board
- Board of Technical Professions
- Board of Mortuary Arts
- Board of Healing Arts
- State Bank Commissioner
- Kansas Insurance Department
- Department of Wildlife & Parks
- Animal Health Department
- Board of Cosmetology
- Securities Commissioner
- Kansas Dental Board
- Board of Education
- Board of Emergency Medical Services
The Lento Law Firm: Professional License Defense for Licensed Professionals in Kansas
Your professional license is a badge of honor that you worked hard to receive. When someone files a complaint against you, you are at risk of losing your professional license, your career, and your good reputation. You don't have to enter into this fight alone.
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Practice helps clients in Kansas and across the country, and provides representation for Physician License Defense, Nursing License Defense, Pharmacist License Defense, Psychologist and Psychiatrist License Defense, Dental License Defense, Chiropractic License Defense, Real Estate License Defense, Professional Counseling License Defense, and Other Professional Licenses.
Don't let allegations of professional misconduct threaten your professional license. Call Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team today to get the exceptional representation you deserve. Call 888-535-3686 or contact them online to review your case and start building your defense to protect your professional license and restore your good name.
