Understanding Disciplinary Actions a Licensed Professional Could Face

 Posted on May 31, 2019 in Medical License Defense

Each year, thousands of licensed professionals receive some sort of disciplinary action against them in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is the regulating body for many of Illinois’ professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, chiropractors and dentists. These professionals are held to a higher standard than other citizens and they each have certain rules they must follow. Breaking those rules could result in disciplinary action, which comes in a variety of forms. If you are a licensed professional and you are facing any of these actions, it is crucial you understand exactly what they mean.

Types of Disciplinary Actions

Once a complaint has been filed against you, the department may or may not launch an investigation into the complaint. The investigation could result in nothing happening, but it could also result in some form of discipline. Here are a few common ways the IDFPR could discipline a licensed professional:

• Reprimand: Receiving a reprimand does not affect a licensee’s ability to practice, but it does create a public record of discipline for the professional. They may also be required to meet additional requirements or conditions.
• Probation: Being placed on probation typically means a licensee is permitted to practice, but only under certain terms and conditions. Probation may result in monitoring by the Probation Compliance Unit and can be for a definite or indefinite period of time.
• Suspension: Similar to probation, a suspension may require a licensee to follow certain terms and conditions, but the licensee is not permitted to continue to practice during the suspension period. Probation typically follows a suspension period.
• Summary or Temporary Suspension: A summary or temporary suspension may be imposed on a licensee that is thought to pose an imminent danger to the public. The license could stay suspended throughout the hearing of the case.
• Revocation: No licensee is permitted to practice while his or her license is revoked. Many licensees must wait a minimum of three years to file a Petition for Restoration.
• Refuse to Renew: If the IDFPR refuses to renew a license, the licensee is prohibited from practicing after the expiration date of the license.
• Relinquished, Surrendered or Permanent Inactive: These three terms are not necessarily disciplinary actions, though they can be. A license in one of these statuses is not permitted to practice.
• Fines: Fines can be imposed on licensees as a disciplinary action in itself or in conjunction with one of the above actions.

An Illinois Professional License Defense Attorney Can Help

If you are facing any of the above disciplinary actions, it is crucial to your career that you immediately contact an Illinois professional license defense lawyer. At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc., we can help you defend your license against any of the above actions. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 630-310-1267.

Sources:

https://www.idfpr.com/licenselookup/discpline.asp