Do You Have To Notify The Florida Board Of Medicine If You Are Arrested?

Facing a criminal charge is always stressful—especially so for licensed physicians. You may be wondering: Are you required to report an arrest to the Florida Board of Medicine? The short answer is technically no—but a conviction or no contest plea must be reported within 30 days. Here, our Orlando criminal defense lawyer for doctors explains your obligation to notify the Florida Board of Medicine if you are arrested and charged with a crime.

An Overview of the Law and Regulations: Reporting Arrests as a Doctor

Doctors are held to a high professional standard. To maintain your license, you need to demonstrate continued good moral character. As stated clearly by the Florida Board of Medicine, “you are required to report all criminal activities after you receive your medical license.” Of course, an arrest is not proof of “criminal activities.” It is an allegation. Any person who has been arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. With that in mind, licensed doctors are not required to report an arrest to the Florida Board of Medicine.

However, Florida Statute § 456.072(1)(x) does require licensed doctors to report “in writing within 30 days after the licensee has been convicted or found guilty of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction.” To be clear, this means that it does not matter whether or not a crime happened within the State of Florida. Convictions (or no contest pleas) must still be reported in writing to the Florida Board of Medicine within 30 days.

How a Conviction Will Impact Your Medical License in Florida 

If you are a medical professional in Florida, a criminal conviction can have a major impact on your medical license, and, as a direct result, your career. Of course, the extent of the impact will depend largely on the actual nature of the conviction. For less severe offenses, such as a minor misdemeanor—the Florida Board of Medicine may impose conditions such as fines, mandatory education, or even probation. For more serious offenses—such as serious felonies or crimes involving harm to patients—the Florida Board of Medicine could suspend or even permanently revoke a doctor’s medical license. Each case is evaluated on its own specific merits—and factors such as a doctor’s prior previous disciplinary history (or lack thereof) may matter as well. For this reason, it is crucial that doctors are represented by a defense lawyer with relevant experience. 

Consult With Our Orlando Criminal Defense Attorney for Doctors Today

At The Baez Law Firm, our Orlando criminal defense lawyer is committed to investing the time, resources, and attention to detail to protect the rights, future, and career of doctors. If you are a doctor who has been charged with any type of criminal offense, we can help. Contact us today for a confidential initial consultation. With a law office in Orlando, we defend medical professionals who are facing criminal charges throughout all of Central Florida.

Source:

flboardofmedicine.gov/help-center/do-i-have-to-report-any-criminal-activities-after-i-receive-my-medical-license/