Like other professionals, you have no doubt worked very hard to acquire and maintain your license to practice veterinary medicine in the state of California. When you learn that someone has filed a complaint against you, it will probably send you into immediate panic mode. For many, learning as much as you can about building a professional license defense is the first thing that comes to mind.
Thinking about ways to defend your license is a good idea. However, it may not be wise to let these thoughts consume your thoughts completely. Remaining clear of mind and focused on the requirements of the inquiry is usually a better approach. Especially if you are confident that you have done nothing wrong. The following tips can help you remain calm and fulfill all of the requirements expected of you.
- Avoid an aggressive tone: Staying professional and clinical will serve you much better than a defensive or aggressive tone in your responses.
- Be timely in your responses: Submitting required information or evidence late can be harmful to your case.
- Provide orderly records: Get your medical records in order and make sure they meet the state’s record-keeping requirements.
- Be collaborative: The state board is not your enemy but is an organization with which you can work to resolve any conflict with your pet patient’s owner.
Finally, know when you need an advocate to assist you with a professional license defense. If you are called upon to make an appearance before the board, it is expected that you will bring legal counsel along. Having an attorney by your side is not an admission of guilt; it is simply part of the inquiry process.
Source: VeterinaryNews.com, “Beware the board: 6 tips to survive a state inquiry,” Marc Rosenberg, VMD, accessed Jan. 31, 2018
