What Disciplinary Action Can Be Taken Against a Wisconsin Medical License?

 Posted on December 19, 2019 in Medical License Defense

By Attorney Kristen Nelson

Doctors must be granted and maintain a medical license before they are allowed to practice medicine. Similar to a nursing license or any other professional license you can obtain in Wisconsin, there are rules and regulations that need to be followed to ensure that a doctor’s license will remain valid. The Wisconsin Medical Examining Board handles any issues involving issuing, limiting, revoking, or suspending a doctor’s medical license. If the Board determines that rules have been violated or that a doctor has acted in a way that warrants discipline, it may take action against a person’s medical license.

Disciplinary Action

A wide variety of issues can result in discipline to your medical license, including claims that you have committed medical malpractice, problems with record-keeping or financial matters, or substance abuse. The Department screens every complaint it receives. If the Department believes the complaint requires further review, it is referred to a Department investigator and assigned to a Department attorney. Once the investigation is complete, the Department with a liaison from the Board may close the case with no violation found, or offer a proposed Final Decision and Order, and a Stipulation. The parties can then agree to resolve the case, or if no resolution is reached, the case may proceed to an administrative hearing. If discipline is issued against a medical license, the following private or public disciplines may be imposed:

• Administrative Warning: After an investigation, the board may issue a private and confidential administrative warning to a holder of a medical license. This warning is not public record, nor is it considered discipline, but it is kept in a licensee’s file. If another allegation is made against a licensee, the Board may rely upon the allegations in the administrative warning.
• Public Education Order: The Board may order a licensee to take additional education courses related to the allegations in the complaint. These courses must be in addition to any required continuing education courses needed to maintain a medical license. This order is public, but it is not considered discipline for reporting purposes.
• Reprimand, Suspension, and/or Monitoring Order: The Board may issue a Reprimand or suspend a license if the allegations are serious enough. As part of a Reprimand or a Suspension, the Board may require additional monitoring depending on the allegations. These monitoring conditions may include additional education, alcohol and drug monitoring, or employment limitations. If a license is suspended, the Board may stay the suspension, allowing the licensee to practice, as long as certain conditions relative to the order are met.  
• Summary Suspension: If the Board finds that there is probable cause to believe that a licensee has engaged in or is likely to engage in conduct that may endanger the public health, safety, or welfare, the Board may issue an order for a summary suspension of the medical license. This order is effective upon service of the licensee and through the entry of a Final Decision and Order, unless the license is restored prior to a formal disciplinary hearing.  
• Revocation or Voluntary Surrender: If the allegations are found to be particularly egregious and places the public at risk if the licensee is allowed to continue practicing, the Board may revoke a medical license. In the alternative, negotiations could result in the voluntary surrender of a license, which may allow the licensee to one day return to the practice of medicine.
• A fine: In addition any of the above disciplines, a fine of any dollar amount may be issued along with the costs of the proceeds.

Contact a Milwaukee, Wisconsin Medical License Defense Attorney

If you have been accused of any conduct that may put you at risk of losing your medical license, you should contact the Milwaukee professional license defense lawyers at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP immediately. Your professional career is important to us. We will stand by your side to protect you and your medical license. Call our office at 414-271-1440 to schedule a consultation with our attorneys.

Sources: 

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/448.pdf