Receiving a DUI charge can drastically affect anyone’s life. You might have to pay a large amount of fines, lose your driving privileges and face potential jail time. Additional penalties could severely impact your career if you happen to be a licensed medical professional.
How will the disciplinary board react?
Every state medical board, including Florida, requires licensed health professionals to report any criminal wrongdoing. The medical board typically allows physicians 30 days to report any incidents. Failure to report your crime could result in harsher consequences.
After completing your report, the medical board will begin investigating the event. Once the investigation has finished, the board will hand down sanctions, which may include:
- License suspension
- License revocation
- Restrictions placed on your medical license
- Probation
- Fines between $1,000 and $2,000
If you end up having your medical license suspended, the disciplinary board may allow you to reinstate your license if you fulfill certain obligations, depending on the incident that occurred. You can also apply for your license to be reinstated if you have your license revoked. Each state has its own waiting period after a revocation, but it is generally three years.
Your license could also have restrictions placed on it. This will hinder your capability of performing specific tasks. The board may determine you are unfit to work in a clinical setting until you prove otherwise.
It is imperative to keep in mind that the court system will hand down their penalties too. Reaching out to an experienced attorney early in the process can help you avoid harsher consequences.