Defending your Right to Practice Medicine
In Florida, doctors and other healthcare providers are required to be licensed through the state agencies for their specific fields. This is to ensure that only individuals who meet rigorous ethical and professional requirements interact with patients.
If you hold any type of medical license, familiarize yourself with the actions that could subject you to disciplinary action. Avoiding these actions can help you avoid facing charges that could result in the suspension of your professional license. It is also important that you know your rights if you are accused of any type of malpractice and that if you are, that you contact an experienced medical license defense lawyer right away.
Who is Required to Hold a Medical License?
Anybody who works with patients is required to hold a license to do so. The following professionals are required to be licensed in Florida:
- Doctor’s’ licenses are granted by the Florida Board of Medicine;
- The Florida Board of Nursing grants and regulates the professional licenses for all types of nurse, including registered nurses (RN), certified nursing assistants (CNA), licensed practical nurses (LPN), clinical nurse specialists (CNS), and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP);
- All dental professionals. Dentists, dental hygienists, and dental radiographers must be licensed by the Florida Board of Dentistry;
- Optometry licenses are granted by the Florida Board of Optometry; and
- Pharmacy workers. Pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians must be licensed by the Florida Board of Pharmacy.
Why Would I Face Disciplinary Action from the Florida Board of Medicine?
Grounds for disciplinary action against a medical professional include the following offenses:
- Paying or receiving a commission for a patient referral, also known as a “kickback;”
- Failing to file a professional report, either due to negligence or intentionally;
- Failing to care for patients according to the ethical standards of your profession;
- Performing medical procedures on a patient without his or her consent or the consent of his or her parent or legal guardian;
- Failing to keep legible medical records;
- Exploiting your relationship with a patient for sexual purposes;
- Intentionally concealing a violation made by another healthcare professional;
- Deceptive or blatantly false advertising about your capabilities or available procedures;
- A conviction of a criminal offense related to the practice of medicine;
- Aiding or advising another individual to practice medicine without a license to do so;
- Having your medical license revoked, suspended, or acted against in Florida or in any other state; and
- Attempting to renew your medical license through bribery or other fraudulent means.
Work with a Miami Medical License Defense Lawyer
If you are a medical professional facing disciplinary action and the possibility of having your medical license suspended or revoked, you need to work with a criminal defense lawyer in Miami who has experience working with clients in your specific situation. To learn more about defending your medical license, schedule your free legal consultation with our team at Ratzan & Faccidomo, LLC.
