NC Medical Board Disciplinary Actions Against Physicians

A complaint, investigation, or disciplinary action can jeopardize your medical career as a physician.

The North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) is mandated to provide licenses to qualified individuals and monitor them to ensure their competence. The NCMB also investigates complaints filed against medical professionals and imposes disciplinary actions on those found guilty of violating state or professional laws.

Medical disciplinary actions may lead to mistrust among your peers and patients, making it challenging to practice medicine. The North Carolina medical license defense attorneys at Remington & Dixon, PLLC are dedicated to protecting the license and reputation of medical professionals facing complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions from NCMB. Call us and schedule a consultation to learn the best strategy for your case.

Common North Carolina Medical Board Disciplinary Actions Against Physicians

NCMB has varying forms of punishment for varying range of violations. This means less serious disciplinary actions for minor offenses and severe consequences for more serious actions.

The NCMB’s disciplinary actions against physicians may include:

• License denial: The Board may deny your application for a medical license or renewal of your current one.
• License restriction: In this case, the Board may allow you to continue practicing medicine but with some limitations. You may lose some privileges, such as prescribing drugs.
• License surrendered: As a physician, you may be able to agree to submit your license during the investigation.
• License revoked: When your medical license is revoked, it is terminated. You can no longer practice medicine within North Carolina.
• License suspension: The Board may require you to stop practicing medicine for a specified amount of time. This may be during the investigation stage or until you meet certain conditions.
• No formal action: This is common when NCMB finds no violation of applicable law. You will be notified of the findings, but this information is filed on your record, although it is not accessible to the public.
• Private action: In this case, there may be no violation of law, but the Board may still be concerned about the actions or performance of a physician. They may send you a confidential letter of concern or even summon you for a private interview.
• Public action: When NCMB establishes that a physician breached the law, it can take public action against you and post it on their website. Your license may be suspended, restricted, denied, or even revoked.
• Probation: The Board may keep your license under review for a specified amount of time and may require you to complete certain probationary requirements.
• Fines: NCMB disciplinary actions may also involve levying fines against a physician.

The NCMB may also require you to attend additional training and education.

What Are the Common Causes of NC Medical Board Disciplinary Actions?

The North Carolina Medical Board is authorized to investigate complaints about physicians’ state and professional law violations.

Typical offenses that may warrant state medical board disciplinary actions are:

Medical malpractice

These involve complaints about incompetence, misdiagnosis, and failure to diagnose and meet standard care. They may also include poorly maintained medical records, improper patient communication, or inappropriate medicine prescription to patients, friends, and family. You could face license restriction, suspension, or worse, lose your license.

Drug and alcohol abuse

NCMB also deals with physicians’ substance/alcohol abuse or dependence issues. Working while intoxicated or having drug dependence outside work is a serious allegation. It can lead to varying NCMB disciplinary actions like license suspension or termination.

Driving under the influence

Driving while impaired charge as a physician can lead to indefinite license suspension. North Carolina statute authorizes the suspension of physicians who cannot provide reasonable safety to their patients due to drunkenness, illness, or excessive use of alcohol and other substances.

False statement in the license application

Making a false statement or failing to disclose important information, such as an ongoing case during license application, is prohibited by North Carolina regulations. The Board may revoke your license if they discover this offense.

Healthcare fraud conviction

A felony conviction means automatic license revocation. However, you can request a hearing within 60 days after receiving an revocation from the Board to determine if you can get your license back.

Sexual harassment or assault

NCMB deals with complaints about physicians’ inappropriate intimate relationships with patients. Sexual assault of a minor is a severe crime with grave consequences. You risk getting a lengthy prison sentence and losing your medical license. When your license and freedom are at stake, don’t hesitate to call the attorneys at Remington & Dixon, PLLC.

Other typical complaints that NCMB deal with include drug diversion, unlawful billing practices, unlicensed practice, illegal prescription, criminal convictions, and patient negligence.

An experienced medical practice defense attorney can help you understand your legal options and fight to keep your professional license.

Contact Our North Carolina Medical License Defense Lawyers Today

Facing medical complaints, investigations, criminal convictions, or arrests can result in devastating disciplinary actions against physicians. The medical license defense team at Remington & Dixon, PLLC is dedicated to aggressively defending your rights and keeping your medical practice privileges intact. We have years of experience in navigating the complexities of such cases. Contact our law firm today and schedule a confidential evaluation of your case to determine a way forward.

FAQs About NCMB Disciplinary Actions