Your professional license is an achievement. It's a sign to employers, colleagues, clients, and customers that you have met all the educational, regulatory, and legal requirements to practice your profession. It tells your community that you have all the qualifications required to do your job – and can be trusted to do good work.
If your professional license is being threatened in the state of Oregon, it is important to take appropriate action. No matter if you are a doctor, nurse, contractor, teacher, electrician, or other licensed professional, allegations that may put your licensure at risk should be taken seriously right from the start. Protect this invaluable asset by retaining Joseph D. Lento and his skilled Professional License Defense Team.
The Lento Law Firm and Professional License Defense
Your ability to make a living in your field depends on keeping your professional license protected and up to date. Allegations of professional code violations can put the considerable time, money, and effort you put into achieving this status at risk. If you have been notified that the Oregon state licensing board is investigating you for an alleged violation of patient/client confidentiality, sexual misconduct, professional misconduct, substance abuse, or an outside criminal conviction, you must put up your best defense against such complaints. Working with a skilled Professional License Defense Attorney will help you put your best foot forward – and make sure the outcome of any investigation will not be too much to bear.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team have the skills and experience necessary to help you navigate these perilous waters. As soon as you learn of even the possibility of an allegation of professional misconduct against you, it is vital to speak with a trusted attorney. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team have successfully helped others fight back against threats to professional licensure in states like Oregon, including healthcare professionals and attorneys in the state at risk of losing their licenses. They can help you, too. Contact the Lento Law Firm at (888) 535-3686 today to discuss your case.
Understanding the Disciplinary Process in Oregon
In order to earn your professional licensure, you met the prescribed qualifications by your state licensing board. The same entity oversees any allegations of wrongdoing – and conducts the requisite investigation to see whether those accusations have merit. While each state – and each licensing board – has its own policies and procedures, most follow a similar process for potential disciplinary actions, outlined below.
Complaint
The process begins when a complaint is filed with the Oregon state licensing board that governs your particular profession. For example, if you are a physician, that complaint would go to the State Medical Board of Oregon. The same agency also handles complaints made against other healthcare professionals, including massage therapists, respiratory care professionals, dieticians, and more. There are separate state licensing boards that cover nursing, dentistry, and counseling.
The Oregon State Board of Education is responsible for complaints made against teachers and other education professionals. And the Oregon Construction Contractors Board deals with those working in the construction industry.
When you achieved your professional license, you likely received information about the complaint process for your particular board. It's important to remember that anyone can file a complaint against you. Employers, colleagues, clients, insurers, and even court clerks all have the power to file if they suspect misconduct.
Investigation
Once the complaint is filed, the relevant state licensing board will notify you of its intent to launch an investigation into the matter. You should receive written notice of this intention – and this missive may also include instructions for how to respond to the complaint even at this early date. An assigned investigator may contact you to schedule a time to speak or, depending on the exact complaint, may show up at your place of work unannounced.
After the investigation is completed, the agency determines the next steps regarding your license. They may decide to close the case at this junction. Or they may decide to move forward, which may require further interviews with you and the complainant and subpoenas for relevant records. If the latter occurs, you want a trusted Professional License Defense Attorney by your side. Joseph D. Lento and his trusted Professional License Defense Team can guide you through every step of the process.
Consent Agreement and Hearing
If the investigation into the complaint against you finds that you should be disciplined, it is possible that the Oregon State Licensing Board will try to negotiate a binding consent agreement with you. In this scenario, you admit liability or guilt but may continue to hold on to your license. The consent agreement may also include some sort of restitution penalty or even mandated classes or continuing professional education.
If a consent agreement is not on the table – or, if offered, you cannot come to mutually agreeable terms with your state licensing board – the next step is an administrative hearing. You can think of it as your state licensing board's version of court. The board will present its case, and you can defend yourself against the evidence against you, as well as show cause why you should maintain your professional license. At the culmination of the hearing, the board will determine your innocence or guilt – and then determine what disciplinary actions make the most sense.
No matter whether you are offered a consent agreement or go straight to an administrative hearing, you want trusted counsel by your side. Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team can advise you at every step of the process – helping you to negotiate the best possible terms for a consent agreement or assisting you with the best possible defense at hearing.
Don't Go It Alone
If you have been notified of a complaint and pending investigation against you by the Oregon State licensing board that oversees your field of work, you may be tempted to handle it on your own. Yet, while the matter may seem straightforward, this is not the time to try to go it alone. With so much at stake, you are in a better position to navigate to a positive outcome when you engage a professional license defense attorney who intimately understands how state licensing boards work – and can help you protect your license so you can continue your career in your chosen field or industry.
It's important to understand that any person who brings a complaint that might threaten your license does not need to hire legal representation. They incur no costs. And, for some professions, there is no statute of limitations on complaints. That means the majority of risk lies with you if and when any complaint is made.
Joseph D. Lento and the Professional License Team can help you throughout the entire investigation and decision process by:
- Reviewing the complaint against you and determining the best strategy to address it;
- Serving as your official legal representative, interacting directly with the administrative board as the process moves forward;
- Drafting a compelling response to complaints that will improve your odds of having the complaint dismissed outright;
- Negotiating with the board to have the complaint dismissed, negotiate a fair consent agreement, or agree to more favorable penalties;
- Helping you craft a strong defense and representing you in a formal hearing before the administrative board, if and when it becomes necessary.
- Assisting with the necessary steps to restate your license if the worst happens and it is suspended or revoked.
Areas the Lento Law Firm Serves in Your State
Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team can provide services to healthcare professionals, as well as other licensed professionals, across the state of Oregon. The majority of our clients live in the more urban areas of the state, where the major metropolitan healthcare centers, as well as the majority of law firms and other professional services organizations, reside. We are particularly open to providing representation to clients in the following cities:
Portland
With a population of approximately 650,000, Portland is the largest city in the state of Oregon. It is also home to Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) Hospital, the state's largest academic medical center.
Salem
Salem, Oregon, is home to nearly 175,000 residents – as well as where Salem Hospital, one of the busiest emergency departments on the West Coast, resides.
Eugene
Eugene, where the University of Oregon is located, is similar in size to Salem. But its healthcare needs are served by the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center.
The Lento Law Firm also operates across the state, including more rural areas, and can help those who work outside the healthcare arena. To discuss your specific case and see how Joseph D. Lento and his skilled Professional License Defense Team can help you protect your license, call (888) 535-3686 today.
Common Allegations That May Affect Your Professional License
It's important to remember that anyone can file a complaint against a license – and it is your state licensing board's duty to look into each and every one to see whether they are merited. Examples of allegations that may lead to disciplinary actions, including the potential revocation of your license, include:
- Fraudulent practices, including overbilling patients/clients or upcoding insurance providers.
- Professional misconduct or alleged behavior that violates your professional code of conduct.
- Providing services outside the scope of your license.
- Collecting kickbacks for referrals.
- Abuse or gross negligence.
- Falsifying patient or client records.
- Inaccurate record keeping.
- Sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, or inappropriate work relationships.
- Substance abuse or addiction issues.
- Other criminal allegations or convictions outside of work.
The nature of potential professional misconduct allegations is vast. Luckily, the Lento Law Firm has experience providing professional license defense for a wide range of different violations. If you are notified of any type of complaint against your professional license, Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team are here to help regardless of what issue you may be facing. Remember: the best offense is a strong defense. With Joseph D. Lento and his Team by your side, you can make sure, no matter the allegation, that you are positioned to reach the best possible outcome with your state licensing board.
The Lento Law Firm: Helping Licensed Professionals Across Oregon
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team have strong experience in representing healthcare professionals – ranging from physicians to massage therapists – across Oregon. But they are also well-versed in helping other licensed professionals governed by different state boards. If you are licensed in any of the following areas, Joseph D. Lento and the Professional License Defense Team can help you.
- Physician
- Physician's assistant
- Nurse
- Physical therapist
- Dentist
- Pharmacist
- Mental health professional, including psychologist or licensed social worker
- Chiropractor
- Audiologist
- Real estate agent
- K-12 Educator
- Cosmetologist
- Insurance agent
- Architect
- Certified public accountant (CPA)
- Athletic trainer
- Optician
- Dental hygienists
- Building contractor
- HVAC contractor
- Electrician
- And all other licensed professionals governed by an Oregon state licensing board
The Right Representation for Oregon's Licensed Professionals
If you are facing an allegation of professional misconduct that has led to an investigation by your state licensing board, you are likely experiencing a wide range of emotions. You may be frustrated, angry, and even scared. You may be unsure of how to best protect your professional license – and, by extension, your livelihood.
The Lento Law Firm is here to help. We understand that trying to ignore the issue or defend yourself against any allegations, is often a losing proposition. Joseph D. Lento and the Professional License Defense Team will stand with you through the investigation and decision process – and help you ensure your future career prospects are safe.
As a licensed professional, you know what the state of Oregon expects from you to stay in good standing. But an administrative hearing with your state licensing board has specific policies and procedures that must be followed. The right counsel can help you mount the right defense to help you protect your professional license.
Don't put your professional reputation and career at risk. There is no reason why a misunderstanding, unfounded allegation, or lapse in judgment should cost you your career. Joseph D. Lento and his Professional License Defense Team can help you navigate this precarious situation. Call the Lento Law Firm at (888) 535-3686 today to discuss your case – and determine how to fight for your license and future.
