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An anonymous complainer could affect your medical license

On Behalf of | Oct 30, 2020 | Doctor License Defense |

Securing a medical license takes years of school and passing a test. You also have to have a clean personal history with limited or no criminal activity on your record. The California Medical Board handles licensing, and they also handle renewals and free vacations or suspensions of professional licenses.

Unfortunately, even if you avoid major mistakes in your medical practice and cultivate good relationships with your staff and patients, your license could still wind up at risk. Personal issues like addiction or a contentious divorce could lead to someone filing an anonymous report with the Medical Board.

Even complaints about things that you do in your personal time could impact your licensing status. Unless you take the report seriously and move to defend yourself, you could lose your medical license.

The California Medical Board allows anonymous reporting

When someone accuses you of a criminal act, you have the right to know who brings those accusations against you in court in all but the most extreme of circumstances. However, licensing isn’t a basic right, like your liberty and the right to defend yourself from criminal convictions.

Licensing is a privilege, and the Medical Board has the right to set their own rules. They do allow for anonymous reporting in order to ensure that employees don’t have to worry about retaliation and that those close to medical professionals will speak up when they notice something truly concerning or problematic.

Unfortunately, anonymous reporting also makes it easier for people to abuse the system as a way to bully or negatively affect a medical professional. Someone with a grudge could exaggerate the severity of a situation or outright lie, putting you in a position where you have to prove your innocence or your professional competence.

Defending your license requires patience, documentation and help

One of the biggest problems with attempting to defend yourself in a disciplinary or review hearing with a licensing board is the potential for your nerves or emotions to impact how you present yourself. Anger, frustration and fear could all manifest in aggression or behavior that makes you seem guilty.

Having a professional help you and advocate on your behalf during licensing hearings ensures that you get the calm, focused representation you need to succeed.

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