Medical Board Accusations
Medical Board Investigation - Don’t Wait, Get Legal Help!
A Medical Board Accusation is the culmination of a process.
It is crucial to contact a medical board lawyer early in the process before an accusation is filed. The investigative phase is your best opportunity to limit the scope of an accusation, make a preemptive (non-public) deal, or prepare your case in advance anticipating the filing of an accusation.
For expert legal defense, contact Daniel Horowitz at (925) 291-5388.
Why Early Legal Intervention Matters
- Prevent Mistakes: Doctors, like patients, can make critical errors without proper guidance. Early legal intervention helps prevent these mistakes.
- Contact Witnesses: You cannot safely contact witnesses but an experienced lawyer with top investigators can.
- Expertise in Defense: The best physician defense lawyers have the experience and knowledge to navigate the complexities of medical board investigations and accusations. Technical defenses can be established prior to the filing of an accusation.
- Protect Your Career: Early legal support can safeguard your medical license and professional reputation. The mere filing of an Accusation causes reputational damage. Prevention and reputation management can be critical.
What is an Accusation & What is a “Notice of Defense”
The Initial Investigation
An Accusation follows from a complaint which is filed with the Board. The complaint is reviewed and screened by the CCU Unit. For cases having some facial merit an investigation process takes place and the physician is usually notified and participates via document submission, presentation of exculpatory evidence and interview.
Learn More: What is a Medical Board Accusation?
Filing & Service of the Accusation & Notice of Defense (form)
When a Medical Board Investigation results in charges, the first papers you will receive are an Accusation. This packet, sent by certified mail, includes a crucial document titled “Notice of Defense.” This preprinted form must be returned to the board within 15 days of service. (Service may mean received, mailed, or a variation of the two!)
Learn More: What is a Notice of Defense?
Top physician defense attorneys create a custom version of the Notice of Defense, addressing issues not included in the preprinted form and tailored to your specific case.
Best Lawyer for Medical Board Defense: Top Physician Defense Team
When facing a medical board accusation, having the best lawyer for medical board defense is crucial. Our top-tier physician defense team includes:
- Dr. Mark Ravis: A physician lawyer with extensive medical and legal expertise. Mark's office is in Calabasas, California.
- Daniel Horowitz: A renowned trial lawyer with a stellar track record. Daniel's office is in Lafayette, California (Contra Costa County). His experience includes the United States Supreme Court and courtrooms nationally and internationally.
- Oksana Tyskova: An experienced trial lawyer with two physician parents.
- Karina Johnson: Over a decade of experience in highly technical medical-legal matters. Formally working for Physicians Advocates in Walnut Creek, California.
- Brookes Hammock: Licensed in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Attorney with experience working for the Ohio medical board with Supreme Court experience.
- Michael Yates: Law school graduate and Chiropractor.
- Molly Northrup: MBA and Law Student
For expert legal defense, contact the best lawyers for medical board defense, Lawyers in Lafayette, Daniel Horowitz, at (925) 291-5388.
AMA Code of Medical Ethics Opinion 9.4.1 Describing Purpose of Peer Review
“Physicians have mutual obligations to hold one another to the ethical standards of their profession. Peer review, by the ethics committees of medical societies, hospital credentials and utilization committees, or other bodies, has long been established by organized medicine to scrutinize professional conduct. Peer review is recognized and accepted as a means of promoting professionalism and maintaining trust. The peer review process is intended to balance physicians’ right to exercise medical judgment freely with the obligation to do so wisely and temperately.”
However, the “fair hearing” concept does not mean that reporting to medical boards or medical commissions are always delayed. Summary suspensions, unfair peer review findings, denials of privileges, resignation while under investigation can all trigger medical board reporting and investigation.
Hard Dollar Cost & Damage to Your “Brand”
A medical board investigation if public or if known generally in the community will cause your personal goodwill to nosedive. This is a major economic loss.
Your personal goodwill is literally your own reputation and skills. In most states that reputation belongs to you. You can sell your reputation just as clearly as a corporation can sell a brand name. Even an unfounded peer review will devalue your “brand”. We will at least fight to have wrongful accusations withdrawn. We will make “deals” when necessary but we have no hesitation to litigate if the damage to your reputation is so severe that a settlement is no better than a surrender of your license.
Client Testimonials
Contra Costa County Location - National Reputation for Excellence
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Dan Horowitz handled my complex business issue with magnanimity, compassion, care, promptness, and utmost professionalism. I'm an Attorney and would highly recommend him to other professionals (and others alike) because he's the very BEST at what he does and has an uncanny knack at finding unique resolutions with unparalleled speed and efficiency. What is quite outatanding is that he treats each client with kindness and compassion as if a family memberLovely K.
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Very caring individual. Daniel handled my divorce back in 1991 and is a very understanding and caring person who took care of my needs with patience and understanding. He is one of a very few of that special breed. Wish to God there were more like him. Thanks, Daniel.Jean M.
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“The Best Attorney I Could Have Asked For.”Katherine Ryken
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He is approachable but serious. Mr. Horowitz is the perfect balance of what someone wants in a lawyer. Not only is he approachable enough to gain and value your trust, but he's a bulldog in the courtroom. Despite his kindness, I have never once doubted his ability to provide me with THE BEST representation in court. I'm so thankful to have found a lawyer capable of such a delicate balancing act.Molly A.