Many years, thousands of hours, and hundreds of thousands of dollars are expended in order to become a physician. When a physician’s license is threatened or a physician faces any sort of disciplinary action, there is more than just a license at stake. There is a career and a lifetime of hard work in jeopardy, not to mention an entire family’s security.
Attorney James W. Burdick understands the seriousness of what physicians are facing when a discipline action erupts, as well as how to be proactive in finding a solution. As a skilled and effective attorney for decades, he has extensive experience with license reinstatement, administrative and other disciplinary matters facing doctors. Not only did he serve as a member of the Michigan Board of Medicine for nearly a decade, but his success rate in reinstatement proceedings is close to 99%.
Investigations of doctors can be based on a number of allegations — some true, some not — including charges of:
In general, there are three phases for physicians or doctors facing an administrative investigation or disciplinary action. They are as follows:
At the beginning, a doctor likely has not received any formal notification, but he or she may be aware of a medical board investigation. Jim Burdick will act immediately and proactively by creating an individualized “self-report” on your behalf. This self-report explains what happened, what you have done since then to rectify the situation, and why disciplinary action is not appropriate.
A phone call or a formal letter to you from a State investigator is usually the first you will hear you have a problem.
The physician has been served with an administrative complaint summary, sometimes accompanied by a summary suspension.
Under Michigan law, any violation of the Public Health Code — any violation — can result in the following range of disciplines: reprimand, fine, community service, limitation, probation or revocation, often in combination. There are also several violations that can, under the Public Health Code, may only be punished by revocation. No other discipline is permitted in these cases, such as alteration of medical records (also a five-year felony), late-term abortions and human cloning.
There is a great deal at stake for medical doctors, and having an amateur represent you — many of whom claim vast experience — can only result in chaos and pain for you. Turn only to the best, and that would be Jim Burdick — or someone with his experience.
