How Can Doctors Defend Against the Loss of Board Certification?

 Posted on July 19, 2024 in Professional License Defense

Board certification serves as an important credential for medical professionals. Recognition by specialty boards such as the American Board of Family Medicine or the American Board of Internal Medicine demonstrate a medical professional’s knowledge, experience, and commitment to maintaining the highest standards of patient care. Losing board certification can have severe consequences, impacting a doctor's career, reputation, and ability to practice. An experienced attorney can help doctors and other medical professionals address legal issues that could lead to the loss of their board certification.

The Benefits of Board Certification

Doctors who are certified by specialty boards can benefit in many ways, including:

• Professional credibility: Board certification lets patients, peers, and employers know that a doctor has met rigorous standards in their areas of specialty.

• Career advancement: Board certification may provide better career opportunities, since many hospitals and medical practices prefer or require board-certified physicians.

• Patient trust: Patients often seek board-certified doctors who can demonstrate that they can provide quality care.

• Continued education: Certification typically involves ongoing education and assessment, ensuring that doctors stay current with medical advancements.

Reasons for Loss of Board Certification

Medical professionals may lose their board certifications for various reasons, including:

• Professional misconduct: Involvement in unethical or illegal activities, such as fraud or patient abuse.

• Malpractice: Repeated claims that a doctor has failed to meet the standards of care or has made errors that have resulted in harm to patients.

• Failure to meet continuing education requirements: Not completing the necessary educational credits or failing recertification exams.

• Substance abuse: Drug or alcohol use that impairs a doctor's ability to practice safely.

• Administrative errors: Failing to maintain accurate and complete documentation required for certification.

Defending Against the Loss of Board Certification

To ensure that they can maintain board certification, doctors can work with an experienced attorney to address concerns about their qualifications, practices, or issues that could lead to discipline. At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc., we assist in these cases through:

• Legal representation: Our attorney can represent a doctor during investigations and hearings conducted by a specialty board. We can ensure that a doctor's rights are protected while presenting evidence and arguing against the loss of board certification.

• Navigating the appeals process: If a board revokes a doctor's certification, we can help determine the options that may be available for appealing this decision. We can help prepare a strong appeal that challenges the board's decision and provides evidence supporting the doctor's case.

• Addressing professional misconduct allegations: In cases where a doctor has been accused of behavior that violates ethical standards, we can help gather evidence, obtain witness testimony, and build a defense to refute these claims.

• Ensuring compliance with continuing education: Our attorneys can assist doctors in proving that they have met all continuing education requirements, while also helping to resolve any disputes related to CME credits or recertification exams.

• Rehabilitation and reinstatement: In cases involving substance abuse or other personal issues, our attorney can help doctors create a plan for rehabilitation and demonstrate their commitment to recovery. We can present this plan to the certifying board as part of a petition for reinstatement of board certification.

• Mitigating the impact of malpractice claims: In cases where doctors have been accused of malpractice, we can explain mitigating circumstances, show that corrective actions have been taken, and demonstrate that doctors are committed to improving patient care practices.

Contact Our Chicago Medical Board Certification Defense Lawyer

The loss of board certification can jeopardize a medical professional's career. At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc., our Illinois board certification defense attorney can help address issues that could lead to the loss of board certification, or we can provide assistance with reinstating a certification. Call us today at 630-310-1267 to set up a free consultation.