No one wants to get a DUI, but it happens to thousands of people every year. Some of them are shocked. Others know that they shouldn’t have been driving. Either way, it can bring about fines, jail time, driver’s license suspensions and much more.
But what about doctors and other medical professionals in California? Could you actually lose your medical license over a DUI? Could it impact your entire career, not just your wallet?
You definitely could, but there is no guarantee either way. The Medical Board of California notes that they consider each case on its own. There’s no set requirement, such as every person convicted on DUI charges losing their license for a year. They simply look at each issue and decide what steps they should take based on the facts of that case.
In this sense, it could depend on the circumstances of your DUI and whether it impacted your work. There’s obviously a big difference if you had one too many drinks at dinner on the weekend vs. getting arrested in the afternoon, on the way in to work your shift, with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .10%. The Board will also consider if there are other criminal issues involved. A simple DUI after a traffic stop may be viewed differently than causing an accident where someone loses their life.
As such, you really need to make sure you know what defense options you have. Don’t let the facts get distorted. Make sure that the situation is really examined in an authentic way that leads to fair results. You can work hard to protect your career.