Dental professionals have a high level of responsibility when it comes to providing care for their patients. However, like any other profession, there are certain rules and regulations that must be followed. In Indiana, the State Board of Dentistry regulates dental licenses, and in situations involving patient complaints or other issues, the Board may take disciplinary action such as suspending or revoking a dentist's license. While most dental professionals do their best to comply with rules put in place by the Board of Dentistry, there are a variety of issues that could lead to disciplinary action. By understanding the potential reasons for discipline to a dental license, dentists can respond to complaints or take other actions to avoid issues that could affect their ability to practice.

Common Reasons for Dental License Discipline

Investigations or disciplinary hearings conducted by the Board of Dentistry may be based on complaints from patients or other parties as well as reports to the Board that a dentist has committed certain violations or taken other actions that may warrant discipline. A license suspension, revocation, or other forms of discipline may be based on issues such as:

• Unprofessional conduct -

  Dentists must follow a strict code of ethics and professional conduct. If a dentist fails to meet these standards, their actions may be investigated, and they could be subject to multiple forms of discipline. Examples of conduct that could lead to disciplinary action include engaging in sexual relationships with patients, mistreating or neglecting patients, engaging in discriminatory behavior towards employees or patients, or practicing outside the scope of a dentist's knowledge and education.

  ...

Patient complaints are an inevitable aspect of the healthcare industry, and nursing homes are no exception. Unfortunately, these grievances can sometimes be the precursor to significant trouble for nursing homes, potentially even leading to the loss of their licenses. It is important to remember that patient complaints must not be taken lightly. Dismissing complaints or failing to address issues that could affect the health and safety of residents could lead to severe consequences, including a potential loss of licensure. When these issues arise, a facility can make sure they are addressed correctly by working with an attorney who is experienced in nursing home license defense.

Issues Affecting Nursing Home Licenses in Indiana

The Indiana Department of Health (IDH) oversees the licensure of nursing homes in the state. The agency is entrusted with ensuring that nursing homes in Indiana comply with their regulatory requirements. It has the authority to license, certify, and regulate nursing homes by conducting regular inspections and investigating complaints. The IDH also has the power to take disciplinary measures against nursing homes that fail to comply with the state’s laws and regulations. By law, all complaints received by ISDH are reviewed, and there is a great deal of rigor in the process of determining whether a nursing home is meeting the appropriate standards of care.

The IDH follows specific standards and guidelines regarding the quality of care that must be provided by nursing homes. These guidelines encompass a wide variety of issues, including resident rights, staff training, living conditions, medical treatment, and the administration of medication. Patient complaints may arise across all these areas, and any substantiated complaints will have a significant impact on the nursing home in question.

Social work is a noble profession that requires dedication, sacrifice, and compassion. It is a job that impacts thousands of lives in Indiana, making the state a better place. However, social workers are held to certain professional ethics and standards. Failure to meet these standards can result in discipline, including license suspension or revocation. The loss of a license can be catastrophic for a social worker's career. By understanding the reasons that an Indiana social worker could lose their license, a person can take the necessary steps to avoid these issues.

Negligence and Malpractice

Negligence occurs when a social worker breaches the duty of care owed to their client. Malpractice, on the other hand, may occur when a social worker causes harm to a client as a result of professional misconduct or errors. Both negligence and malpractice can result in disciplinary action and the revocation of a social worker's license. To prevent negligence and malpractice, social workers must be diligent in their interactions with clients and draw firm boundaries.

At the end of January, an Indiana bariatric and general surgeon found himself in a nightmare scenario: Someone submitted a petition to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board calling the surgeon’s competency in practicing medicine so lacking that he was a clear, urgent danger to the public. Just a few days later, the surgeon found himself, with the help of his attorneys, testifying in his own defense in an investigation into some of his practices, including performing surgery in an office that is not a certified outpatient surgical center.

The petition followed an investigation from the previous year, in which investigative journalists discovered that the surgeon had over a dozen malpractice claims against him. Just a month after the investigation went public, a patient of the surgeon died after a bowel puncture from liposuction the surgeon performed became septic. Despite the surgeon’s protestations, his license was suspended for at least 90 days, during which the board will conduct an extensive review and, in April, again suspend the license or revoke it altogether.

Why Are Medical Licenses Suspended?

Licenses to practice medicine of any kind can be suspended or revoked for many reasons. In the case of this surgeon, the suspension follows years of allegations of misconduct, including improper anesthesia administration, infections following surgery, and two patient deaths. Other reasons that a license could be suspended include, but are not limited to:

Romance is one of those funny parts of being a human - we all think about it, we all need it to some extent, and we all have very little control over the time and place in which we fall in love with someone. Despite the current social taboo against people meeting at work, couples are nevertheless continuing to find each other at work and carrying on relationships, whether covertly or otherwise.

However, for doctors and other healthcare practitioners, the question of relationships at work is significantly more complicated because the relationships doctors most often see at work are not lateral - coworker to coworker - but instead are hierarchical - doctor to patient. In addition to the inherent ethical issues at stake, there are strict professional guidelines to which medical professionals must adhere. Failing to do so can expose a doctor, nurse, psychologist, or any other health worker to serious professional repercussions, including investigation, sanction, and even permanent loss of license. If you are being investigated for an improper patient relationship, it is essential to have a skilled professional license defense attorney protecting your hard work and investment in your career.

When Can a Doctor Date a Patient?

The short answer to this question is: Never. As long as the doctor and the patient share a professional relationship, there cannot be a romantic relationship of any kind between them. Any professional relationship must be formally terminated before a doctor and a former patient can engage in a romantic, sexual, or other dating relationship.