Emergency Suspension Orders

Emergency suspension orders can apply to any healthcare professional’s license, and they can have a devastating effect for several reasons. One is the immediate impact on your livelihood, as you are unable to practice until the suspension order is lifted. In order to get the order lifted, some healthcare practitioners take a settlement agreement, actually pleading guilty to charges even when they’re innocent. Here the impact can extend to an entire career.

With experience that spans two decades, the attorneys at Norman Spencer Law Group have helped many clients with professional licensing issues and administrative hearings. Our healthcare legal team has the knowledge, background and skill to effectively deal with issues surrounding the standard of care, ethics and legal duties. We’re dedicated to helping healthcare professionals defeat actions that threaten their careers, reputation and integrity.

If you’re a licensed healthcare professional who has received an emergency suspension order (ESO), it’s in your best interest to contact one of our professional licensing attorneys as soon as possible. This also holds true if you received an emergency restriction order (ERO) or are aware of any type investigation into your conduct. We can help you map out the most favorable action to take and, if needed, represent you at the administrative hearing or before the licensing board.

An emergency suspension order is typically the result of conduct that jeopardizes public safety, health and welfare. Examples include gross negligence, malpractice or misconduct, healthcare fraud, or violations of controlled substance standards. While receiving an ESO can be scary, you often have a chance to defend yourself before final action is taken.

Licensed healthcare professionals are generally entitled to or can petition to board for a hearing to present their case. Hearings and appeals against emergency suspension orders must be done as quickly as possible. This makes it imperative to contact a qualified lawyer as soon as you’re aware of an ESO against your medical, dental, nursing or other professional license.

Even if there is some validity to the complaint against a healthcare professional, the criteria for enacting an emergency suspension is extremely high. Healthcare practitioners who obtain legal counsel greatly increase their chances of avoiding this punitive action. The cost of retaining legal counsel is frequently outweighed by a more favorable outcome than they would have likely received on their own.

Each state has its own set of licensing boards that oversees and handles issues within specific professional groups. These state agencies provide licenses, investigate complaints and discipline healthcare professionals when needed. They may also refer practitioners for evaluation and rehabilitation if required.

With clients that have included doctors, surgeons, dentists, nurses, psychologists and other healthcare professionals, we’ve represented many before a wide range of different boards.

• BOM: Board of Medicine
• BON: Board of Nursing
• BOP: Board of Pharmacy
• Board of Osteopathic Medicine
• Board of Chiropractic Medicine
• Board of Pediatric Medicine
• Board of Dentistry
• Board of Optometry
• Board of Psychology
• Board of Occupational Therapists
• Board of Physical Therapy
• Board of Massage Therapy
• Board of Social Work
• Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling
• Other professional licensing boards

Emergency suspension orders aren’t the only licensing issue that healthcare professionals may face. They may also face professional license restrictions, revocations and surrenders.

• License restrictions limit a healthcare professional’s practice. Restrictions can be issued for a number of reasons. These can include health issues or being disciplined for professional misconduct.

• License revocations are the most severe type of disciplinary action that a board can take against a healthcare professional. When a professional license is revoked, the practitioner may no longer practice within their state or region.

• License surrenders occur when healthcare professionals voluntary surrender their licenses. This often occurs when healthcare professionals believe surrendering their license is the best, easiest or only course of action they can take in a certain situation. This is not always the case. Surrendering your license can result in collateral consequences, such as inability to reapply for a license, loss of employment, or loss of other professional licenses.

Before taking any action with regard to their license, it’s imperative for healthcare professionals to seek counsel from a qualified attorney. The lawyers at Norman Spencer Law Group are here to help you navigate through the stressful and complex process surrounding licensing issues. With a long history or working with various state licensing boards, we can discuss options and help you determine the most favorable actions to take.

Obtaining a professional licensing attorney can not only provide strong representation, but it can also give you peace of mind. No licensed healthcare professional should feel the need to handle licensing issues on their own. Our lawyers are ready and willing to help. Contact our office to schedule a consultation today.