Criminal Consequences for Licensed Healthcare Professionals

Many, many people in Arizona have professional licenses of one form or another. I have a license to practice law –it’s been hanging on my wall for 19 years– but I didn’t really know that the veterinary technician, making ten dollars an hour, who brushes my dog’s teeth, also has a special Arizona license. Or the nice person at the pharmacy by our house who rings up the prescription when our kids are sick—she’s an Arizona “Pharmacy Technician”– and sure enough she has a special license. So does the personal trainer at the gym; and even the person who fits my daughter’s glasses.

But what struck us the most is that everyone I’ve just mentioned it turns out, is considered by Arizona Law to be a “Licensed Health Care Professional” –along with the doctors and nurses– and each one has a special statutory duty to tell their official Arizona State Licensing Board immediately whenever they get a ticket for just about anything! And if they don’t it’s a separate “violation.” Who wouda thunk it. And some boards then begin their own investigations before the criminal case even really gets going. And they might sanction our client even if we win the criminal case!

I should say that we’ve come across dozens of other Arizona licenses our clients turn out to have—accountants have them; real estate agents; architects; engineers; mortgage brokers; barbers; even “nail technicians”—those nice ladies who give my aunt her pedicures. We tried to compile a list of every single profession in Arizona that needed a license, and every Arizona licensing board that gives them out. And it turns out there’s hundreds and hundreds of them.

After we narrowed it down based on our clients we decided that the single most important group to sound the alarm on was everyone Arizona considered a “Licensed Health Care Professional.”

Licensed health care professionals may face professional discipline, even suspension or loss of licensure, when charged even with comparatively minor criminal offenses.  And disciplinary proceedings can occur almost immediately: on arrest, the vast majority of Arizona health care professionals are required by law to report their case to their licensing board (“Mandatory Reporting”).  Moreover, many healthcare professionals have multiple licenses and clearances in Arizona, in other states, and through the federal government, all of which may be affected by a criminal case. Michael represents numerous MDs, RNs, NPs, CNAs and other healthcare professionals in a wide spectrum of criminal and administrative matters.  His skill in addressing the unique needs of, and tremendous pressures facing, health care professionals  has made him trusted counsel to many local health care providers.

Criminal Defense for Health Care Professionals

As part of his administrative and licensing practice, Michael represents numerous MDs, RNs, NPs and other healthcare professionals in a wide spectrum of criminal and administrative matters ranging from DEA investigations to credentialing and internal matters. His skill in addressing the unique needs of and tremendous pressures facing health care professionals today has made him trusted counsel to many local health care providers.