The job of a healthcare professional can be fulfilling yet challenging at the same time. After all, you may face an investigation and can receive a public reprimand or another disciplinary action from the state medical board if you violate the laws and regulations. In the case of an intentional or unintentional mistake at work, you need to seek the defense services of a lawyer.
A public reprimand is a form of disciplinary action imposed on healthcare professionals. It is commonly issued to individuals who performed minor violations of the Healthcare Practice Act or Nursing Practice Act. It is also popularly known as a Letter of Public Reprimand (LPR) or a public reproval.
In the state of California, two licensing boards mainly have the authority to issue a public reprimand to medical professionals:
Aside from the MBC and BRN, here are some other healthcare licensing boards that may issue an LPR:
These are the usual steps that you may encounter throughout the public reprimand process:
An LPR will not immediately affect your ability to continue working and is generally a preferable outcome compared to other serious disciplinary actions. A public reproval is considered a lesser discipline since it will not cause your medical license to be revoked or suspended.
Even if you receive a public demand, you can continue to work as a healthcare professional. Nevertheless, based on your situation, you may be required to complete coursework or pay fines as a part of your disciplinary action.
While a public reprimand will not place any technical restrictions on your medical license, it may still negatively impact your healthcare career. In addition, you may miss out on employment opportunities because some employers view individuals who have any type of discipline on their work records negatively.
That’s why you need to seek the services of a lawyer who specializes in license defense if you receive a public reproval. A knowledgeable, experienced license defense attorney can help protect your medical career so you can continue your career unencumbered.
A public reprimand involves the public announcement of your disciplinary action. As a result, potential employers and the general public can access your disciplinary records if they search for your professional license online. The exact duration of the online availability of your LPR will be based on the kind of healthcare license you have:
Note that other licensing boards may have their guidelines regarding the duration of a public reprimand. A license defense attorney can inform you regarding these timelines.
Keep in mind that the period only begins once the conditions of the public reproval have been completed. You should pay all the necessary fines and take up the recommended coursework as soon as possible.
A public reprimand from the medical board may not lead to the suspension or revocation of your medical license, but it can still affect your healthcare career.
Contact our law office if your licensing board issues you a public reproval or disciplinary action. We are ready to help you minimize the negative impact of your public reprimand on your career through our license defense expertise.