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New York Pharmacist License Defense Lawyer
Importance of Pharmacist License Oversight
As a pharmacist, you are a critical part of the chain of health care delivery. You have an essential role in ensuring that people get the care they need. However, that importance comes with oversight. Every state, including New York, has a disciplinary board that regulates and distributes pharmacist licenses. This board has the power to launch investigations into the conduct of pharmacists who hold licenses in that state. This gives them an enormous amount of power. You need to take this seriously, because an investigation can jeopardize your career as a pharmacist. You need to know what this board will examine, what can trigger an investigation, and the penalties the board can impose. A lawyer can help you protect your license, but if you delay contacting one, then you are at greater risk.
Areas of Scrutiny
The board looks at more than just your professional conduct, although that is its primary area of focus. It can also investigate your personal life, your financial history, and more. The wide range of these investigations means you need to take care in every area of your life to avoid events and actions that can attract the board’s attention. Some of them will be more germane than others, but the potential outcomes from an investigation include losing your license permanently, so you need to treat every risk as important. The reason the board investigates so widely is that they are trying to prevent any serious problem with care delivery, such as something that could lead to a malpractice suit or a negative impact on a patient. As a result, they try to gather information about your personality to determine if you are likely to commit such a mistake.
Financial Considerations
First of all, consider your financial state. If you are a person who has trouble keeping up with your personal finances, then the board could consider this grounds for an investigation. Pharmacists who take out student loans are at risk, because defaulting on those loans is one of the things the board considers financial misconduct. Other examples include bankruptcy and summary judgments. Financial and legal relationships, like child support obligations, are also potential sources of investigations. As a pharmacist, you need to know that these things could bring on investigations even though they have little to do with your day to day work. Junior pharmacists fresh out of school need to be especially vigilant because their debts are higher and their incomes are lower than later on in their careers.
Personal Life Considerations
Next, think about your personal life. There are many aspects of your personal life that can lead to investigations if you do not handle them carefully. Any interaction you have with drugs or alcohol has the potential to bring on an investigation if anything happens, such as a car accident or a confrontation with someone else. This is especially dangerous if the drugs are illegal. Any relationship problems, from arguments up to divorce and restraining orders at the top end, are potential red flags to the state board. It is unfortunate that something so private is in play for disciplinary investigations, but boards use these as evidence that your personality might not be a good fit for the profession. If you make threats or other negative statements over electronic communication, the phone, or any other medium, that is another problem spot. Any conviction of any crime, or even becoming the target of criminal charges, is enough to draw the attention of the board. In one sense, this is understandable. Pharmacists have access to highly sensitive drugs and material, as well as the private health information of their customers, so they need to be discreet and law-abiding citizens. But this means your entire personal life is potentially on trial.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
Professional and Volunteer Work Scrutiny
Of course, your professional and volunteer work in your capacity as a pharmacist are prime areas of scrutiny. The board will examine your performance very carefully. Any kind of irregularities that lead to negative health consequences for patients, missing inventory, spotty attendance, or anything else that impacts your performance is a red flag. The worst cases can lead to charges for malpractice or negligence, but a problem need not rise to that level for the board to become involved. Indeed, they are likely to respond to almost any complaint they receive about your work. Keep this in mind whenever you do anything that draws on your knowledge, like teach or give advice. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you if it leads to a complaint. The state board in New York has very little tolerance for any slip-ups due to the importance of pharmacy work. The margin for error is slim indeed.
Penalties and Consequences
As for what kind of penalties a board can impose as a result of the investigation, they range from a warning all the way up to a permanent revocation of your license. The revocation is the worst-case scenario and demands the strongest response if you want to get your license back. You will need to wait a minimum of three years before you can even apply to be reinstated. During that time, you must show the board that you can prevent the original incident from ever happening again by learning from your mistake and correcting the lapse that created it. You also need to retain your knowledge so that you remain an effective pharmacist. On top of that, you need to show remorse and not argue that the board’s original decision was wrong. After all of this, you are still far from guaranteed to get your license back.
Interstate Implications
One of the trickiest parts of this process is the fact that investigations or a termination in one state is likely to trigger investigations in any other state in which you hold a license. That means you cannot simply move to a different state and practice there, or apply for a new license somewhere else. The boards all share information with each other. The mere fact of being investigated jeopardizes your position with every state board, both now and in the future. One mistake could compromise your ability to practice anywhere.
The Importance of Legal Representation
All of these things point to one fact– you absolutely must have an advocate. In this case, you need an experienced and knowledgeable pharmacist license defense lawyer. The earlier you talk to one, the better chance you will stand at keeping your license. They will work on your behalf and help you protect your ability to practice.
