Defense Against Accusations Of Inappropriate Patient Contact
If you have been accused of a professional boundary violation and are facing a nursing board investigation or allegations of physician misconduct, you need a lawyer who understands what is at stake.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, at Collis Law Group, LLC, we have experience handling disciplinary actions that can adversely affect your license, reputation and livelihood.
Although we cannot promise specific results, we can commit to walking you through every step of the license board review process, helping you understand your options and working to resolve this matter as best we can for you. Contact us today to learn more during a confidential consultation.
Inappropriate Contact Or Relationships With Patients Defined
Professional boundary violation claims tend to involve obvious recurring patterns between a physician or nurse and a patient where the following two factors exist:
- The patient could be considered highly vulnerable. This often occurs with an elderly patient or any patient who is vulnerable due to life circumstances that create isolation and dependency on the medical professional.
- There is prolonged patient contact with a specific doctor or nurse. This involves a setting where due to patient care needs, the same medical professional is assigned to the patient over a prolonged period of time. The doctor or nurse then goes out of his or her way to spend time with the patient and often develops a friendship or relationship that extends far beyond professional-patient where unacceptable actions are taken by the medical professional.
In many situations, these two factors overlap and create patterns of behavior that are seen as egregiously crossing the line and taking advantage of the bond of trust that the patient has placed in the medical professional.
Relationship boundary violations typically involve either financial or other personal gain at the expense of the patient. Sexual misconduct between a physician or patient also constitutes inappropriate contact or a relationship boundary violation.
How Ohio Law And Professional Boards Handle This Type Of Infraction
It is important to note that under Rule 4723-4-06 (L), Ohio Administrative Code, for purposes of reviewing a potential boundaries violation for nurses, “the client is always presumed incapable of giving free, full, or informed consent to the behaviors by the nurse.”
The disciplinary outcome is typically tailored to address the specific violation. For example, permanent practice restrictions may be imposed removing the nurse from a particular patient population and/or care setting. The Board may also permanently revoke your license, put certain restrictions on your practicing capabilities, or impose other harsh licensure board disciplinary sanctions.
We work personally with you to understand your side of the story and bring this to light. From helping you respond to board investigations to representing you at a disciplinary hearing, we will work diligently to reach a resolution in a manner appropriate for your situation.
Tell Us Your Story
As experienced board investigation defense attorneys, we have helped many nurses, doctors and other medical professionals in Ohio who are facing these types of allegations.
To arrange an initial consultation with an experienced professional license defense attorney, call us today at 614-324-9115 or use our online contact form.
