Last Updated on: 29th July 2023, 07:27 pm

As a practicing physician, your license is something that you cherish. It is a symbol of the hard work and dedication that you have put into the field over the years. It is also the one thing that permits you to freely practice medicine and to serve the patients that you have devoted your life to helping. This is why it is so disheartening to ever be accused of any type of professional misconduct. Such an accusation alone carries immense ramifications that you will immediately begin having to deal with. You will feel as if your very career has been threatened, so it is important to fight like it. This is why you need to retain the services of an NYC physician defense lawyer right away.

The Investigation Begins

You may not even be aware that you are being brought up on misconduct charges right away. If someone makes a complaint against you, the accusation will first go to the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC). Keep in mind that this board will check into the accuracy of any charge leveled against a physician in the state, no matter if it has any merit or not. This is why you will need to be prepared. The first you will hear about the charge is when the OPMC sends you a letter to let you know that they are opening an investigation against you. Even if you know the charges are baseless and without foundation, it is at this point that you will want to get a lawyer involved. Your license and ability to practice medicine in the future are at stake, so you need to have the best possible legal representation right from the beginning.

What to Do After You Receive a Letter From the OPMC

Receiving a letter that an investigation has been opened by the OMPC into your professional conduct can come as quite a shock. Your initial reaction will likely be one of denial. You will want to lash out at the charges and prove your innocence right away. There will come a time and a place for that. The worst thing you can do is to ignore the letter. The investigation will not go away. You will need to reply to the letter and provide any documentation or information that the Board is requesting. If you do that, then the process will go a bit more smoothly. What you do not have to do is submit to any request for an interview nor do you need to verbally talk to anyone from the OPMC. In fact, it is advisable that you do not do so. Instead, you will want to consult with an experienced lawyer who will guide you through the process. Do not do anything without talking to your attorney first.

Why Are You Being Investigated?

While the letter that you receive should detail the basis for the investigation, it is helpful to know what matters the OPMC will get involved with. To begin, they will investigate charges of gross incompetence or gross negligence. Of course, it will be up to them to determine if any of your actions warrant such a charge. If you have been convicted of a crime, the OPMC will also investigate to determine if you should lose your license to practice medicine as a result. Another common charge of professional misconduct stems from a HIPPA violation. There are other matters that can result in an investigation being opened against you. It is important to determine what the charges are and then begin to mount a defense on your behalf.

What Comes Next?

One of the things that can frustrate physicians most about this process is that OPMC controls all of the proceedings. You might hear nothing about the investigation for quite some time and then all of a sudden be asked to get ready for hearing. A hearing is likely in your future, particularly if the Board feels the charges warrant explanation. You will need to remember that you have not been disciplined until the Board decides to rule against you. Keep that from happening. Fight for your license and your career by contacting our offices and getting an NYC physician license defense lawyer to work on your behalf.