As a licensed physician in Indiana, facing disciplinary actions from the state Medical Licensing Board can be distressing. After investing so much time, money, and effort into your career, learning that the Board is investigating alleged wrongdoing may be a profound surprise. During this challenging time, you may feel uncertain about where to seek help.
Professional license disciplinary proceedings can pose significant threats to licensed professionals. Physicians, in particular, may face an uphill battle in clearing their names – the role comes with a duty to provide a high level of patient care.
It is possible to preserve everything you've worked towards. Resolution lies with the support of an experienced professional license defense attorney. Given the gravity of the situation, you must avoid working with an unqualified or inexperienced attorney. Instead, you'll want a legal advocate by your side who has extensive experience in defending licensed professionals against disciplinary proceedings.
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team is your best defense in the face of Indiana physician license disciplinary actions. A qualified defense attorney can evaluate your case, advise you of your options, and advocate for the most favorable outcome possible. We represent physicians in large urban areas like Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, as well as physicians in smaller markets such as Evansville, Bloomington, and South Bend.
If you're eager to retain experienced legal representation and the very best Professional License Defense Team in Indiana, call 888.535.3685 or go online to learn more.
Indiana Medical Licensing Board Proceedings
The Indiana Medical Licensing Board has the authority to suspend or revoke the license of any physician practicing in the state. The Board works in conjunction with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, which has the "responsibility of disciplining licensees who have violated practice standards, acted dishonestly, or acted unethically." Specific outcomes depend on the specifics of the violation but may include license suspension or revocation. Make no mistake: any disciplinary action will become part of the physician's record.
The Indiana Medical Licensing Board maintains a Search & Verify page that publishes the status of licensed physicians in the state. Anyone may search the database to determine
the status of a physician's license and see if they have any disciplinary actions on record.
The Board will act quickly to discipline those who commit physician misconduct. Doctors throughout the state have faced serious fallout after such disciplinary actions were levied.
If you are a licensed physician practicing in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or anywhere in the state and face disciplinary action from the Indiana Medical Licensing Board, seek out the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team. It's the best way to craft a defense that's both strategic and effective.
Indiana Medical Licensing Board Rules and Standards
Each state oversees the licensing of physicians practicing in the region, and the Indiana Medical Licensing Board regulates licensed physicians in the state. From South Bend to Evansville and everywhere in between, the Board investigates allegations of wrongdoing. When evidence is clear, the Board also prosecutes and resolves issues based upon its statutory authority, following standards and procedures it has adopted.
Given these standards, it's important to learn all you can about Indiana's rules for physicians. They dictate the reasons for disciplinary proceedings and any penalties you may face. In order to fully understand your rights and options to seek out the most effective defense possible, you should retain the Lento Law Firm license defense attorney team. Highly-qualified defense attorneys have the knowledge and experience necessary to understand Indiana's standards for physicians. We have the skills required to handle any issues, no matter how complex the situation might be. Working with an experienced license defense attorney from the Lento Law Firm is the best shot you've got at defending against allegations.
Maintaining Optimism in the Face of Indiana Physician Charges
Quality healthcare demands confident physicians. Disciplinary actions have a way of shaking up even the most unflappable professionals. Even under intense scrutiny from the Board, it's important to maintain your confidence when defending against allegations of misconduct. Of course, having an experienced defense attorney by your side can really help bolster your confidence.
A lot is riding on your choice of defense counsel. Working with an experienced professional defense team can set you up for the best possible outcome.
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense team can address any questions you have, educate you about your rights, and position you to strategically defend yourself during disciplinary proceedings. While you might be tempted to ignore allegations, doing so may further jeopardize your career. Instead, contact The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team as soon as you learn of allegations made against you.
Holding Your Indiana Medical License in High Regard
Defending against disciplinary actions from the Indiana Medical Licensing Board will require resilience and confidence. Holding your physician's license in high regard is also important. You must constantly remind yourself of its importance to your livelihood. Fail to appreciate your license and what it means for your career – as well as to your employer, patients, and family – and you may not feel as dedicated to your defense.
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to pursue your medical education. Passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and getting your license required a lot on your part. You opted to practice medicine in an effort to help others and make a difference in the world. You worked hard to carve out your career and establish a good reputation. Your job provides financial, personal, and professional achievements, and you must value everything your physician license allows you to do. To help protect this investment so you can work in a career you're passionate about, retain the Lento Law Firm Professional License Defense Attorney Team today.
What Indiana Physician License Disciplinary Charges Mean
To achieve the best possible outcome for Indiana physician license disciplinary charges, you should also know that disciplinary charges don't necessarily mean you did anything wrong or that you'll lose your license.
Like criminal charges, disciplinary charges are merely allegations of misconduct. They don't mean that a disciplinary official has officially determined you committed misconduct. Instead, they know that there are two sides to every story. Officials will notify you of any charges against you so you can present relevant evidence and information that may exonerate you from charges or mitigate potential penalties levied against you.
A Lento Law Firm license defense attorney can assist you in uncovering the evidence needed to absolve you or lessen the impact that allegations have on your career.
Making Your Case to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board
While the Indiana Medical Licensing Board takes allegations of misconduct seriously and investigates and prosecutes doctors for violations, disciplinary officials also know that doctors may be unfairly accused or unjustly implicated. Most physicians in Indiana are knowledgeable, caring, and compassionate – they're eager to help patients the best they can. You have the right to tell your side of the story, and you can rely on the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team to help craft your case and seek the best possible outcome.
Decoding Indiana Medical Licensing Board Allegations
If you're like most people, you likely have some knowledge about how criminal court and civil court proceedings work. Licensing board administrative proceedings are quite different. While there are some similarities between criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings, there are some key differences you should know about.
For starters, Indiana Medical Licensing Board disciplinary charges do not typically go to court. Doctors may face criminal prosecution, but administrative proceedings don't start in court. They also don't follow the same process as most criminal proceedings. Disciplinary actions typically proceed in an administrative form, which has its own procedures and rules that must be followed. These differ from judicial proceedings and tend to be less formal.
Disciplinary proceedings also have different outcomes from those of criminal or civil courts. In ad administrative proceeding, the only thing at risk is your physician's license. Still, administrative proceedings provide defendants with due process, which is why it's important to take the situation seriously and retain experienced counsel.
What Kinds of Allegations Put an Indiana Physician License at Risk?
Any and all licensed professionals in Indiana may face license disciplinary issues. Doctors are held to especially high standards – they face their own specific licensing issues relevant to their sector of healthcare. Indiana Code chapter 25-1-9 encompasses the Health Professions Standards of Practice, which apply to all health professionals in the state. Among these standards, Indiana Code 25-1-9-4 contains various prohibitions, including:
- Medical malpractice
- Fraudulent billing
- Misleading advertising
- Engaging in sexual contact with patients
- Failing to keep abreast of current professional standards
- Substance abuse
- Criminal offenses
- Inadequate record-keeping
- Unprofessional conduct
These are just some of the allegations that can trigger an investigation into a physician's license. While the entire list of prohibitions is certainly exhaustive, it's important to note that the Board will not respond to complaints involving general business practices and fee disputes.
What Is the Disciplinary Process for the Indiana Medical Licensing Board?
You might feel resentful and wary about the Indiana Medical Licensing Board's disciplinary process. While those feelings are understandable, it's important to remember that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that Indiana – and, by extension, the Indiana Medical Licensing Board – give you due process. This means you must be notified of charges and given an opportunity to defend yourself before they threaten your physician license.
That's why it's so important to seek the representation of the Lento Law Firm's highly qualified Professional License Defense Team. Armed with the right legal resources, the disciplinary process can actually become your ally. Your attorney may invoke the right you have to a fair, impartial investigatory and adjuicatory process, helping you present the very best defense possible.
Indiana Medical Licensing Board Complaints
When the Indiana Medical Licensing Board receives a complaint about a registered physician, the disciplinary process begins. Anyone who believes a registered doctor violated the rules of conduct or behaved in an unprofessional way can file a complaint with the Board. While the Board does not release data on how many complaints it receives annually, we know that countless patients, insurance providers, other healthcare workers, and family members are among the chief complainants.
Upon receipt of a complaint, the Indiana Medical Licensing Board forwards it to the state attorney general. The attorney general acts as a prosecutor and investigates all complaints. If the attorney general finds that the complaint has merit, they present it to the Board or commission, which acts like a judge. Complaints are confidential, but if the attorney general chooses to press charges, the matter becomes public. Any disciplinary action handed down will become a part of the doctor's permanent record and open to public disclosure.
That's why it's so important to contact the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team from the moment you learn a complaint has been filed against you. Working by your side, your Defense Team can provide the attorney general with information that may exonerate you before any investigation concludes.
Indiana Attorney General Investigations
If the attorney general needs additional information to determine if a complaint is brought up in a board meeting, they will thoroughly investigate to determine how to proceed. During the investigation, the attorney general may request and access patient medical records along with other pertinent information, like additional records from other treating physicians. The attorney general will also contact the doctor in question for a response to the complaint.
Upon receipt of all relevant details, the attorney general will review the matter and decide whether the bring up the complaint at an upcoming Indiana Medical Licensing Board meeting. Hearings and decisions generally occur at these monthly meetings.
Indiana Medical Licensing Board Hearings
If the complaint results in formal accusations made against a doctor, the licensee has the opportunity to present their case in an administrative hearing. Physicians can dispute the charges and have legal counsel represent them throughout the proceedings. The hearing may resemble a court trial at first glance, but the standards for evidence and burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt do not apply.
Disciplinary Actions Indiana Physicians Face
Should the investigation and hearing uncover wrongdoing, the Indiana Medical Licensing Board may opt to pursue legal action. They may suspend a doctor's license, revoke it, or request the voluntary surrender of the license. A physician may also be placed on probation, be used for fines, or be cited.
Indiana Medical Licensing Board Appeals
All licensees have the option to petition the Indiana Medical Licensing Board to reconsider a decision. They may seek to reinstate a revoked license, reduce penalties, terminate probation, and more. Any final decisions may be appealed to the Indiana Supreme COunrt, the relevant District Appellate Court, or the U.S. Supreme Court.
Why You Need a Physician License Defense Attorney in Indiana
There are two main reasons to contact the Lento Law Firm and retain the services of a qualified Professional License Defense Team attorney to defend you against Indiana Medical Licensing Board disciplinary charges.
First, as a state agency, the Indiana Medical Licensing Board has immense resources at its disposal. The attorney general will stop at nothing to investigate and prosecute alleged offenses. Disciplinary officials and investigators can pursue doctor discipline full-time – they know what to do and what not to do when implicating and disciplining physicians. Level the playing field by hiring your own skilled, knowledgeable attorney defense team to combat the attorney general's actions and protect your legal rights.
You also need a competent, highly-qualified license defense team from the Lento Law Firm because the Indiana Medical Licensing Board only needs to establish charges based on a preponderance of evidence. They can establish the likelihood that you committed the offense, and your defense counsel must present as much evidence to support your innocence as the attorney general has of your guilt. Fail to retain experienced defense counsel, and you run the risk of losing your license. The only way to have a fair, fighting chance at defending yourself is by retaining a Professional License Defense attorney.
How a Physician License Defense Attorney Can Help You in Indiana
The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team offers a wide range of benefits in helping you answer the accusations and defend your license. Your defense team can open up the lines of communication between you, the Board, and the attorney general to present evidence and arguments in your defense. If you have any hope of having your charges dismissed or abandoned early, your defense attorney can assist with careful negotiations involving voluntary resolutions. They can also help you find exonerating evidence or mitigating factors that may reduce the disciplinary action consequences and advocate on your behalf in a hearing. Your attorney can also assist with appealing the Board's decision or challenging any decision the Board makes about your licensure.
Areas We Serve in Indiana
The Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm represents clients throughout Indiana, including doctors who practice in the following cities:
Indianapolis
Fort Wayne
Evansville
South Bend
Carmel
Fishers
Bloomington
We represent doctors who worked at Indiana University Health, Community Health Network, Franciscan Health, St. Vincent Health, Eskenazi Health, Parkview Health, or any medical facility in Indiana.
License Defense Team for Indiana Physician Charges
Regardless of your practice area, as a licensed physician in Indiana, you may face allegations of misconduct or formal accusations that threaten your license, livelihood, and future. The Indiana Medical Licensing Board and attorney general have vast resources – they will investigate and prosecute physicians without hesitation. That's why you need an experienced attorney at your side to help pursue the best outcome possible.
Hundreds of doctors and licensed professionals nationwide have turned to the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team for help. If you've just learned of a complaint against you, call 888.535.3685 or contact us online today.
