The Reporting Checklist Every Licensed Professional Should Know

If a licensed professional, like a doctor, a nurse, or an accountant, faces criminal charges, the stakes are always higher!

Wonder why?

Because, along with the legal repercussions, these professionals have one very crucial thing to worry about- their career. And if they face charges, they are liable to report it to their respective licensure boards within a stipulated deadline.

However, as a licensed professional, you have to be aware of the disclosure requirements; failing which might put you at risk of self-incrimination. So, it is better to have a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer by your side, who can help guide you through the procedure and make you aware of the things that you need to/ don’t need to include in your disclosure.

Reporting Requirements for Doctors

Supposedly, you’re a doctor and are facing certain criminal charges, your primary question will be whether the charge will affect your license or not, right?

Well, the answer is simple. It depends on the nature of the charge being levied against you, and the regulations of the concerned licensing board, which in this case would be the State Board of Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

So, as stated in Title 40, Section 1303.903 of Pa.C.S., if you’re facing the following criminal charges as a doctor, you need to report them to the afore-mentioned bodies within 60 days-

• Any kind of medical malpractice that has been filed against you. Also, don’t forget to include the specific case details in the disclosure.
• Any kind of disciplinary actions taken against you by out-of-state regulatory bodies.
• Any kind of sentence for offenses included under the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
• Any kind of arrests for offenses like homicide, aggravated assault, sexual offenses, and violations of controlled substances.

Reporting Requirements for Other Professionals

Now that you’re aware of the reporting requirements for doctors, let’s take a look at the requirements that other licensed professionals are liable to meet.

• For nurses: They are liable to report any kind of criminal charges or convictions within 30 days to the State Board of Nursing.
• For advocates: Yes, we lawyers are licensed professionals too, and we also run the risks of facing charges! So, if anyone from our community faces charges of felony or fraud, we are liable to report it to the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board.
• For accountants: In case of any fraud or theft charges, financial professionals are liable to report it to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.

Note: You might be thinking, what happens if a professional fails to report the charges. Well, in that case, the disciplinary actions taken by these licensure boards might get more severe than their original offenses! That’s exactly why having a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer becomes mandatory to protect their rights.

Why is the Assistance of a Legal Representative Crucial?

As a licensed professional, you may think that your licensing board will show some leniency in such challenging times! However, nothing can be more wrong! Rather, a licensing board will be taking immediate disciplinary actions to maintain public trust and professional standards.

At such a tumultuous time, a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can help you in the following ways-

• They can offer the best advice on whether a disclosure is at all necessary. If it is, then they will help you to report properly.
• They can defend you during your proceedings and try to reduce the impact on your license.
• An experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can also represent you in disciplinary hearings and assist in negotiating the outcomes.

We understand that you might be tempted to face the process alone. But you never know how a harmless statement might be used against you. So, it’s better to take the best precaution and have an experienced legal counsel by your side.

Also, if you were looking for the best legal counsel, we at Logue Law Group can be your best option in Pennsylvania! Just call us at 412-387-6901 or send an email to sean@seanloguelaw.com for any further queries.