In the wake of the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel and Israel's ongoing response, there have been a number of licensed professionals who have lost their jobs for making public statements about the conflict. These include doctors, teachers, and others who posted their opinions publicly and whose employers terminated them as a result of the posts. When that happens, an additional concern is whether the firing can result in disciplinary action that can affect the individual's professional license. If you find yourself in a position of having to defend yourself against a disciplinary investigation or proceeding because of your views on a particular subject, contact the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team at 888.535.3686 or through our contact form to learn more about how we can help.

Doctors Fired for Gaza-Related Posts

In one case, two doctors employed by NYU Langone Health were removed from their positions after making online posts taking a stand on opposite sides of the Hamas-Israel conflict. One doctor was reportedly reinstated, while the other has sued the hospital and NYU for removing him from his directorship position (though he remains a tenured professor at NYU's medical school). The second doctor has sued NYU and NYU Langone Health for breach of contract, unlawful discrimination, and violation of New York Labor Law.

Teachers Face Consequences for Gaza Comments

A number of teachers across the country have been fired, reassigned to other posts, or suspended for making public or in-school comments about the Hamas attack and the ongoing Israeli response.

Being Disciplined for Your Exercise of Free Speech

Whether an employer has the right to fire or suspend an employee for statements that the employee makes outside of the work context depends heavily on the facts of the situation. Many employees sign contracts where they agree that they can be fired in cases where their actions may harm the employer's reputation, and these types of clauses are frequently used to justify firing an employee for making public statements about controversial topics.

Whether those statements can lead to professional discipline is a very different matter, however. The types of conduct that can result in disciplinary actions typically relate specifically to the requirements of the particular profession. And in most cases, even very strident comments on extremely controversial topics won't be grounds for disciplinary action. That said, it is still possible for someone who disagrees with those statements to react by filing a misconduct complaint – even if they have no legitimate basis for doing so.

The Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team Can Help

If you've become the target of a disciplinary complaint and investigation because you've exercised your right to speak out on a controversial topic, contact the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team to learn how we can help you defend your rights during the investigation process. Our experienced professional license defense attorneys understand the licensing requirements that apply to a wide range of professions. We regularly represent professional license holders all across the US who find themselves being investigated because of misconduct complaints. We will help you defend your right to free speech and your rights in any misconduct investigation.

Call the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about how we can help.