A holder of a veterinarian license in California is expected to adhere to various laws, including the Business and Professions Code, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, and specific criminal laws that will likely affect their professional license. The Veterinary Medical Board is strict about the dos and don'ts of a licensed professional, especially while working. You could lose your reputation, job, and a license that has taken you years and cost you a lot of money to acquire. However, an aggressive license attorney can help if you face a complaint or allegation that puts your entire career at risk.
The guidance of our team at Oakland License Attorney is critical if you are about to lose your veterinarian license in Oakland. We help medical experts like you defend their name, career, and license. We can use our best defense tactics to compel your licensing board to dismiss your allegations or choose a better resolution for your case.
Your Veterinarian License is Critical
A career in veterinary medicine is noble. It requires excellent compassion for animals and a desire to help an animal in pain or distress. It also requires a readiness to work with animals of all kinds. People who pursue this career are usually willing and ready to work in any environment that requires their expertise in caring for ailing animals. With so many animals being adopted as family members throughout the country, the skills of a veterinarian are needed now more than ever.
A veterinarian needs excellent skills to recognize an ailing animal, diagnose it, and recommend proper treatment. Since animals cannot express themselves as humans, you need a unique skill to understand an ailing animal. Most of these skills are learned in college, where you spend years training and retraining. After acquiring the necessary skills, a veterinarian needs experience on the job to put their skills into practice. This is what makes them good at what they do.
The Veterinary Medical Board is particular about the level of training and experience required for a veterinarian to become licensed. Only fully qualified professionals are issued licenses to discharge their services in the state.
However, obtaining a veterinarian license does not guarantee that you will keep it for life. You must prove you deserve that license daily by your conduct and the quality of service you offer. A mistake on the job puts you at risk of losing that license. Public members can report your professional misconduct or criminal activities to the board for discipline. Depending on the gravity of that report, the board can suspend or revoke your license.
However, you can defend your license before the board takes action against you. Once the board informs you of a pending investigation, you can gather evidence and prepare a compelling statement to fight for a license you have worked hard for. This is usually easier if you work closely with a competent license attorney. An attorney who understands how much you have invested in building your career and how much that career means to you and your clients will help you fight any allegation or disciplinary action you face.
The Mission of California Veterinary Medical Board
The most prevalent role of the Veterinary Medical Board is to license competent veterinarians to diagnose and treat ailing animals in California. The board considers the educational qualifications of trained veterinarians to ensure that only the most qualified are licensed. It also finds the professional’s understanding of local, state, and federal laws that affect their profession, including criminal laws, the Business and Professions Act, and the code of ethics for licensed veterinarians. By licensing these professions, the board mandates them to offer safe, effective, professional services to needy animals.
However, licensing competent veterinarians is not the primary role of the Veterinary Medical Board. The board’s mission is for the members of the public. It ensures that the public receives quality, safe, and effective services every time they seek the assistance of a licensed veterinarian. Thus, the board’s primary mandate is to protect the public from unsafe and unprofessional veterinary practices. That is why it tends to take the complainant's side if a licensed veterinarian is accused of unprofessionalism or misconduct. The board can take stern action against a licensed professional who puts animals or people at risk of injury or harm through incompetence or negligence.
Although the board allows you to defend your actions or inactions if accused of unprofessional conduct, its main focus is to ensure you and other licensed professionals do not repeat mistakes that put animals and the public at risk of physical, emotional, or financial harm. Thus, the board can quickly find evidence to support its decision to suspend or revoke your license. You must be aggressive when working on defense in a case like this. The assistance of a competent attorney also improves your chances of obtaining a reasonable outcome in your case.
How The Veterinary Medical Board Handles Allegations of Unprofessional Conduct
The board is usually apparent in its expectations when licensing a qualified veterinarian. Its website has many actions or inactions that affect your competence or professionalism as a licensed veterinarian. It also provides a list of possible disciplinary actions it could take if you violate any of the listed guidelines. The board also ensures you understand how easy it is to lose your license in case of unprofessionalism. Thus, it acts quickly when it receives an allegation about a licensed veterinarian. Its quick response is to protect the public and warn other veterinarians against similar or similar conduct.
Here are examples of allegations that can trigger an action by the Veterinary Medical Board against a licensed veterinarian:
- Inflicting actual harm on an animal or person
- Use of alcohol or drugs while discharging your duties
- Being addicted to alcohol or drugs to the point it impacts your professionalism or competence
- Illegal billing strategies
- The use of unlicensed assistants in your practice
- Violating any health code
- A criminal act or conviction that impacts your professionalism or competence
- Accusations of negligence or incompetence
- Any unprofessional behavior with animals, clients, or colleagues
- Improper use of anesthesia or drugs
- Failure to keep proper patient records
- Falsifying medical records
- Any fraudulent act, including insurance
- Practice without a valid license
- Obtaining your license through fraud
- Going beyond your competence when delivering services
Once the board receives a report of your misconduct, it will look into the matter to ensure the report is credible before taking action. Any allegation that does not seem credible is dropped before the board investigates it. However, if your allegation is substantiated, the board will issue you a notice of a pending investigation and set a hearing day on which you must stand before the board and a judge. Before the hearing, the board will look into the matter and gather proof. It will present this evidence during the hearing.
The best time to consult a license attorney is immediately after you receive the notice of a pending hearing. This allows your attorney time to understand your case, find evidence, and prepare you for the hearing. Your defense lawyer can also take action by trying to negotiate for a case dismissal with the board before the set hearing. They will also find the strength of the board’s evidence to prepare well for a defense that will work in your favor. Remember that your license and career are crucial. Your attorney’s primary focus will be to save your career by negotiating for a charge dismissal or a more lenient course that does not affect your license.
The Administrative Hearing and Outcome
The Veterinary Medical Board appoints an administrative judge to preside over administrative hearings called to discuss a licensed veterinarian’s misconduct. The judge reviews evidence from the board and the accused to determine the most fitting discipline for their unprofessionalism or misconduct. Once you receive a hearing date from the board, you must prepare well to ensure your defense results in a favorable outcome. You can seek your attorney’s assistance in building a solid defense that will push the board to dismiss your allegations or choose a lenient discipline. This way, your license will remain valid, and you can continue earning a living.
When determining administrative cases against unprofessional veterinarians, the judges consider several factors. For example, they consider the gravity of the underlying allegation. Some allegations are graver than others. The most severe allegations, like those that put animals at risk of harm or death, require a sterner course of action, like a revoked license. If you are accused of incompetence, the board can suspend your license to allow you time to obtain the necessary skills. A fraudulent act can also result in license revocation. It helps to understand all these possible disciplines to prepare yourself for what will likely happen after the hearing.
During the hearing, the board presents its evidence and statements against you. The judge allows you to present your evidence and arguments to counter the accusations you face. Your legal representation can also show mitigating factors that could help your situation. For example, demonstrating your good character and excellent performance history can cause the board to rule the case in your favor. Here are possible outcomes of the administrative process and how they can affect your veterinarian license or career:
A Citation by the Board
Citations are sometimes accompanied by a requirement to pay a particular fine. The bard charges a fine according to the gravity of the allegations you face. Licensing boards issue citations in cases of lenient allegations. For example, if your allegation does not affect an animal's or person's health or life, you could be cited instead of losing your license. However, this action can affect your reputation and career since it is issued publicly. If your employer or clients learn about the allegations, they can discontinue their involvement with you. This could leave you without a job, making it difficult to find work afterward.
Talk to your attorney if you fear a citation will affect your reputation. They will develop a defined strategy to force the board to reconsider its disciplinary action.
License Suspension
You need a valid license to serve freely and legally in California as a veterinarian. However, the board can suspend your license at will if there are allegations of misconduct or unprofessionalism. Although license suspensions are usually temporary, they leave you without a livelihood for weeks, months, or years. You have to wait to reinstate your license to start earning again.
If you and others depend on your income as a veterinarian, the suspension period will be challenging. You could be forced to look for alternative means to make a living before reinstating your license. Additionally, the process of reinstating your license is long and tedious.
However, a competent lawyer can easily find a strategy to fight your license suspension. Remember that they have your best interests during this process.
License Revocation
Revocation means losing your permit and the capacity to work as a veterinarian for good. This is a harsh decision that the board can make if your actions demonstrate a complete disregard for life. The Veterinary Medical Board suspends licenses if you cause harm to an animal or human.
If you face a possible revocation, work closely with a skilled attorney to find ways to overturn the board’s decision. An aggressive attorney will use any evidence likely to fight for a reasonable outcome in your situation.
Find Competent License Defense Services Near Me
Losing a veterinary license you have worked hard to obtain in Oakland does not seem fair. However, the Veterinary Medical Board does not take chances if your actions or inactions put animals or humans at risk of harm or loss. However, you can defend yourself in the presence of an administrative judge before the board makes its final decision in your case.
At Oakland License Attorney, we can help you fight to get the board to rule reasonably in your case. We can also help you navigate the complex administrative process and defend your rights against violation. Call us at 341-234-0408 immediately after receiving a notice of a pending investigation. We can start preparing your defense early for improved chances of a favorable result.
