The Oregon Medical Board licenses doctors and other such medical professionals throughout the state. In recent months, the board has suspended, revoked, or otherwise taken action against the licenses of 14 doctors in the state due to allegations of various forms of misconduct. Examples include allegations of overprescribing pain medication and violating patient privacy rights.

Our team at the Lento Law Firm can offer legal assistance when you're navigating such licensing issues. We serve doctors and medical professionals nationwide, assisting with licensing issues in Oregon and elsewhere in the country. Learn more about what our Professional License Defense Team can do for you by calling us at 888-535-3686 or submitting our online contact form.

Doctor Who Didn't Self-Report Allegations Retires Medical License

The board investigates when malpractice claims are made against medical professionals in Oregon. While an investigation is ongoing, a medical professional or healthcare provider must surrender their license. Equivalent boards and agencies may conduct similar investigations in other states.

However, if a healthcare provider is in trouble with their employer, they may wonder if they need to contact the board directly to report the issue. They might assume it's their employer's responsibility to contact the board.

Consider the example of Paul George Hoffman of Ashland, Oregon. In November 2023, Hoffman retired his medical license in general surgery due to allegations that he accessed patient records inappropriately for eight years.

Hoffman has resigned from his role at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. However, he didn't directly inform the board of the allegations against him. This may have at least exacerbated the penalties he incurred. Nevertheless, he will be able to reapply for his license in two years.

When Doctors Must Self-Report Allegations to the Board

Licensees must self-report allegations and similar forms of “trouble” to the Oregon Medical Board in various situations. Examples of circumstances in which a doctor or other such professional must self-report to the board include:

• When they're arrested
• When another licensing jurisdiction or other such body takes adverse action against them
• When they voluntarily resign or otherwise limit their staff privileges at a healthcare facility due to an investigation
• When complications or other adverse incidents occur in office-based surgery
• When they change their address
• When they retire

Medical facilities must also report specific issues to the board when they arise. Sometimes, there may be overlap between when a doctor and their employer must report a matter to the board.

For example, a licensee must self-report to the board when they voluntarily resign, withdraw, or otherwise limit staff privileges while a healthcare facility conducts an investigation into their performance. However, the facility itself must also report these matters. A licensee may face consequences if they don't self-report and instead rely solely on their employer to report misconduct allegations.

The Importance of a Proper Defense

Understanding whether you need to self-report allegations of misconduct to a licensing board in your state is just one issue you may have to navigate when your professional license is in jeopardy. Luckily, you don't have to navigate these matters alone.

Nor should you. At the Lento Law Firm, our Professional License Defense Team can help you better understand your rights and legal requirements in these circumstances. Perhaps more importantly, we can offer the defense you need when your professional license is at risk. We serve doctors across the U.S., handling license defense issues anywhere in the country. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to learn more about what we can do for you.