The Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Team Can Help if Your Louisiana Physician's License Is in Jeopardy
As a licensed physician in Louisiana, you worked hard and sacrificed a lot to obtain your medical license, and you are rightly concerned to have received notice from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners that it plans to take disciplinary action against you. You were likely completely shocked and alarmed at the news because you have always conducted yourself with the utmost professionalism. Now, you worry about your practice and your future, and you wonder where you can turn for help.
Any kind of professional license disciplinary proceedings can jeopardize your license and undermine what you have worked so hard to achieve. Don't let this happen to you. Contact an experienced professional license defense attorney to help you understand your rights and options for defending yourself against allegations of wrongdoing and safeguard your license and your livelihood.
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team is your best defense for your Louisiana physician license disciplinary actions. Your defense attorney can assess your case and advise you of your best course of action. Your lawyer can also be an invaluable advocate for you throughout all proceedings to help you get the best possible outcome. Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team serves clients throughout Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and all points in between.
Call 888.535.3685 or go online now to retain the experienced legal counsel and best Professional License Defense Team in California to improve your odds of getting favorable results.
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners License Proceedings
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners has the authority to suspend or revoke your physician license. The Board's mission is to "protect and improve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Louisiana through licensing, regulation, research, and discipline of physicians and allied health professionals." The Board may take any number of disciplinary actions against Louisiana physicians and healthcare providers who receive certain allegations of wrongdoing or professional misconduct. The Board may investigate any complaint and do whatever it deems necessary to safeguard patients and residents of Louisiana. This can include suspension or revocation of a physician's license or other formal (and informal) consequences. Regardless, any disciplinary action will become part of a physician's professional record and, in most cases, open to the public for view.
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners maintains an Online License Search page that lists recent investigations and outcomes of various physicians in the state. Users may also search for specific physicians by name, and the database goes back at least five years.
The Board usually does not waste time investigating allegations of misconduct, and it will swiftly engage in disciplinary actions if it finds just cause to move forward with the complaint against you. Unfortunately, many competent and respected physicians have faced considerable hardships after receiving disciplinary action and having their names listed on the Board's search page.
If you are a licensed physician practicing in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, or Lafayette, or even in a smaller market like Laplace or Chalmette, facing disciplinary action from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners is a serious matter you need to address quickly.
The top-tier Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can evaluate your case and advise and guide you in developing an effective and strategic defense.
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Rules and Standards
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners governs licensed physicians in Louisiana, and it publishes the rules and laws pertaining to all licensed physicians in the state.
The Board's rules and laws dictate the professional and medical standards physicians must follow, both while obtaining their license and during their subsequent practice. As stated, the Board seriously considers all complaints or allegations of wrongdoing and prosecutes them without delay. Furthermore, the Board lists rules and laws for each area that falls within the areas of medical treatment. This includes acupuncture, occupational therapists, podiatrists, perfusionists, radiological technologists, medical psychologists, and even athletic trainers and licensed midwives, among others.
If you fall into any of those categories, or some other one not listed, you need to know all you can about Louisiana's physician rules and standards. They govern your practice and clearly define any disciplinary actions you could receive if a complaint comes against you.
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team is a group of highly qualified defense attorneys with in-depth knowledge of Louisiana's physicians' rules and laws and considerable experience helping to defend licensed physicians under investigation or already censured by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
Retaining an experienced professional license defense attorney from the Lento Law Firm offers you the best chance of successfully defending yourself and safeguarding your license, your practice, and your future.
Be Confident in Your Defense of Louisiana Physician Charges
You faced a lot of tough challenges and sleepless nights getting your medical degree and obtaining your license. Although there were times you may have felt as though you couldn't go on, you did. You found the strength and the fortitude to pick yourself up and do what you were meant to do. It wasn't easy, but you made it through.
You should have the same confidence as you defend yourself against the charges brought by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. The allegations may have shaken you to the core, and you have likely doubted your abilities since then. Just as before, you can get through this. This time, however, you have help.
The Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm is here to answer your questions, offer advice, and help instill confidence in you that the law is on your side. You shouldn't ignore any notice or correspondence you receive from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, and you should contact the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team immediately for assistance.
Valuing Your Louisiana Physician's License
Along with confidence, you need to value your Louisiana physician's license as one of the most important things in your life. In fact, it has helped create your life, and without it, you ostensibly would not have created the life you did for yourself and your family as you succeeded in your profession.
Now that your continued success is in jeopardy, you really need to consider how much your license means to you, to your patience, to your family, and to your community. You got into medicine to help others and follow your passion. Both are noble reasons, but if you do not value them to your core, your defense will suffer.
Also, consider the amount of time and money you have invested in your profession. There was your education and medical school, and you had to pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). You had to apply for and obtain your license, and you incurred considerable costs in getting your practice up and running.
Your practice, of course, provided you with income and standing in the community, along with instilling in you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The value of all this is immeasurable, and it all depends on your license. For help developing a solid defense and protecting your investment so you can continue your passion, contact the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Attorney Team today.
Louisiana Physician License Disciplinary Charges Don't Mean You're Doomed
There's an old saying in criminal defense, "a charge doesn't mean a conviction." The same is true with charges from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Furthermore, the disciplinary process—from complaint to investigation to accusation—is not exactly the same as in criminal proceedings. In fact, even an accusation may not mean you did anything wrong, or you will lose your license.
Disciplinary officials must carefully investigate any complaint or formal allegation to see if it has merit. Many do not. However, even if the investigation warrants further action, that does not mean the Board has automatically determined your guilt. You will be afforded a hearing, and the Board understands that every story has two sides.
The Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you tell your story and present a compelling case to improve the odds the Board finds in your favor.
What Allegations Put a Louisiana Physician's License at Risk?
Unlike criminal proceedings, where your freedom is at stake, the main thing at stake during Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners disciplinary proceedings is your professional license. In certain cases, you may also face criminal charges, but the Board isn't really concerned with such matters. Still, the Board works with law enforcement to gain knowledge of a physician's alleged criminal conduct as well as their violations of the Board's laws and rules.
Any licensed professional in Louisiana can face serious disciplinary actions from their respective Board, but physicians may face their own licensing issues specific to their area of practice and the alleged wrongdoing they purportedly engaged in.
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners enforces its rules and laws and investigates allegations of misconduct involving the Medical Practice Act. The investigation must determine whether the allegations have any merit and whether the Board has jurisdiction in the matter. Physicians can receive formal complaints involving a wide range of violations that include:
- Unprofessional conduct
- Patient abuse or neglect, including sexual abuse
- License application fraud and other fraud offenses
- Gross negligence or incompetence resulting in patient endangerment
- Substance abuse, including alcohol and drug abuse
- Mental illness
- Practicing without a license
- Prescribing or dispensing medication without a license or "legitimate medical justification"
- Theft offenses
- Violating probation conditions, if applicable
Additionally, physicians may receive disciplinary action from the Board if they are convicted of a crime. The Board typically does not investigate or prosecute complaints involving fee or billing disputes, general business practices, or personality conflicts between the physician and patient. It also does not have the authority to discipline physicians licensed by boards outside the state.
What Is the Disciplinary Process for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners?
Although facing accusations of professional wrongdoing from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners can be scary, you must remember that the U.S. Constitution affords all accused individuals the right to due process.
This means the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners must grant you an opportunity for a fair and impartial hearing to present you with the charges and evidence against you and allow you to respond and defend yourself.
Having an attorney on your side offers you a better chance of protecting your rights and challenging the Board's case, and the Lento Law Firm's highly qualified Professional License Defense Team can be your ally and steadfast advocate during any investigatory and adjudicatory processes to help you present the most compelling defense.
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Complaints
The disciplinary process for licensed Louisiana physicians begins when the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners receives a formal complaint. Virtually anyone can file a complaint either online or by mail. The Board receives thousands of complaints each year, and they come from patients and their family members, as well as other physicians and insurance companies.
When the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners receives a complaint, it will send the complainant a letter verifying it received the complaint and then work to determine whether the allegation can be substantiated. If not, the issue is resolved with no further action taken.
Complainants may submit a complaint anonymously, but the lack of identifying information may thwart the Board's ability to fully and accurately investigate the matter. If the Board determines the matter warrants further action, they can initiate the disciplinary process, and any results will become part of the physician's record.
It's important you contact the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team the moment you learn of a complaint against you. We may supply the Board with information and evidence that can exonerate you before any investigation commences.
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Investigations
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners tries to review and investigate complaints within 90 days of receiving them. The Board does not investigate or prosecute medical malpractice complaints, as they are civil matters to be decided by a court, and the Board cannot offer any legal advice to either party regarding such matters.
Once it receives all the necessary information, the Board will review the complaint and determine whether to take further action. Licensees may obtain "information regarding the Board's opinions on certain matters" under the Advisory Opinions section of its site.
If the Board determines to move on with disciplinary action, which can include probation, a consent order, or suspending or revoking a physician's license.
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Hearings
If the Board decides to formally charge a physician and impose disciplinary consequences, the licensee "has the right to face any complainant at the administrative hearing unless the independent counsel rules that the complainant may remain anonymous." The Board must furnish all files and records it has received to the accused physician, as long as it is not legally required to keep the information confidential. Any final decision of the Board must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence.
If the accused physician wishes to challenge the ruling, they "may issue interrogatories or discovery requests to the investigator," and the investigator must respond as mandated by the Code of Civil Procedure. The physician and their counsel may present any exonerating evidence, and the Board must also disclose any potentially exculpatory evidence it has received regarding the physician and the complaint.
Legal Actions the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Can Take
If the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners determines a physician violated rules or laws, the Board may take any number of actions, depending on the severity of the offense and other factors. The actions can include:
- Placing the physician on probation
- Asking the physician to voluntarily surrender their license
- Suspending or revoking the physician's license
One informal process the Board can take is to issue a consent order to the physician. Essentially, the physician agrees to the charges against them and the Board's proposed disciplinary actions. The Board may also issue fines and citations against the physician.
Any formal decisions and consequences will become part of the physician's record.
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Appeals
As stated, a physician may appeal the Board's decision by filing a request to review the ruling within the timeframe the Board lists in its notice. After reviewing the matter, the Board may decide to terminate the probation, reduce the penalty terms, or reinstate the physician's license.
Why You Need a Physician License Defense Attorney in Louisiana
You want the best possible outcome for your physician licensing issues. Two reasons you should retain a highly qualified Professional License Defense Team attorney from the Lento Law Firm to defend you against Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners disciplinary charges are:
Resources: The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, like any state agency, has vast resources at its disposal to investigate and prosecute alleged violations. Since disciplinary officers deal with these matters daily, you need an advocate on your side to level the playing field and present a strong defense for you.
A preponderance of the evidence: Administrative proceedings are a double-edged sword. On one side, the Board needs only a majority vote to find you guilty of suspected wrongdoing. The Board needs only to establish the likelihood you committed the offense, which is far less stringent than the rules of evidence in a court of law. On the other side, you have the opportunity to present exonerating evidence to challenge the Board's decision and obtain a favorable outcome.
As such, working with the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team can increase your chances of getting favorable outcomes since our attorneys can use our resources to show the Board you did not perpetrate the violations for which you were charged. If you do not have experienced defense counsel on your side, you risk losing the battle of the preponderance of evidence standard and losing your license.
How a Physician License Defense Attorney Can Help You in Louisiana
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team offers many benefits as you try to answer the allegations and preserve your license and practice. We can informally present evidence to the Board that clears you and maintain open lines of communication with disciplinary officers to provide exculpable evidence or information as it becomes available.
At all stages in the process, you can rely on a Professional License Defense Team attorney to always have your rights and best interests at heart and fight hard for your good name and future.
Your attorney can also assist with requesting an appeal and advocating on your behalf to challenge any decisions or consequences imposed by the Board to help you find the relief you seek.
Areas We Serve in Louisiana
The Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm represents clients throughout Louisiana, including physicians who practice in the following areas:
- New Orleans
- Baton Rogue
- Shreveport
- Metairie
- Lafayette
- Lake Charles
- Bossier City
- Monroe
We represent licensed doctors and physicians who work at LCMC Health's University Medical Center New Orleans, St. Tammany Health System, Tulane Medical Center, Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge General, Our Lady of the Lake, and many others throughout the state.
License Defense Team for Louisiana Physician Charges
Regardless of your area of medical practice, you can receive complaints for professional misconduct and risk losing your license and practice if you don't have qualified and effective legal counsel.
Do not let this happen. You have the resources and help you need from an experienced Professional License Defense attorney from the Lento Law Firm. Contact our team today for a complete review of your case and advice regarding your rights and options. Call 888.535.3685 or go online now to speak with one of our team members.
