How to Respond to an Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Investigation

Indiana Professional License Defense Lawyer Offers Tips for Addressing Disciplinary Cases With the PLA

If you hold a professional license, a notification that you are being investigated based on alleged violations of the law or the standards of care for your profession can be very troubling. You have put a great deal of work into obtaining your license, establishing yourself in your profession, and ensuring that you can provide quality services. If you lose your license, this will affect your ability to continue working and earning an income, and your reputation may be permanently damaged. Depending on your profession, multiple other aspects of your career may also be affected, and you may struggle to return to the position you were in before you were disciplined.

After being notified that you are under investigation by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA), you will want to make sure you take the right steps to protect yourself. At the Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, LLC, we can assist with professional license defense, and we can provide you with legal representation as you respond to requests from the PLA.

10 Tips for Responding to a PLA Investigation

1. Do not panic - Even if you are concerned about potential violations, an investigation does not necessarily mean that you will face serious discipline. Many of these cases are resolved without formal disciplinary action being taken against license holders.
2. Do not ignore requests from the PLA - After receiving notification of an investigation, it is important to respond in a timely fashion and cooperate with investigators or licensing boards. Failure to cooperate may lead to additional sanctions against your professional license.
3. Do not stop providing services to patients or clients - You have an obligation to continue providing treatment for patients or other services for clients, even if a client has filed a complaint against you. If you do not believe that you will be able to provide the necessary services to certain clients, you will be required to follow the correct procedures as you withdraw based on the laws and rules that apply to your profession.
4. Make sure you understand the rules that apply to you - You will need to make sure to fully understand the complaints against you and the specific rules that you have been accused of violating. This will ensure that you will be able to properly respond to complaints and demonstrate that you have followed the correct standards of care.
5. Do not attempt to blame others for violations - You are responsible for the actions of employees or others who work under your supervision, so you will not be able to avoid disciplinary action by claiming that you did not personally commit a violation. Instead, you will want to demonstrate that you have taken the proper actions to correct these issues and prevent future violations.
6. Do not make excuses for violations - Even if you believe that your actions were not outside of the typical ways that people in your profession behave, you will need to respond to claims that you have violated rules or standards and show that you are taking action to ensure that you follow the correct standards of care in the future.
7. Gather supporting evidence and documentation - If you dispute the claims made in a complaint or believe that you did not commit a violation, you will want to provide evidence showing that you acted correctly. Records of services provided to clients or other documents that support your position may help you avoid discipline.
8. Behave professionally - Even if you are angry about complaints or false statements, you should respond to questions or comments in a professional manner. This will help demonstrate that you are willing to address the issues that have been raised and take the proper measures to ensure that you are providing quality services to your clients.
9. Contact your insurance provider - Complaints or disciplinary issues may affect your insurance policies. Notifying your insurance company of these matters will ensure that you can maintain coverage, and in some cases, insurance companies provide assistance to those who are facing discipline.
10. Get legal help from an experienced attorney - The PLA follows certain rules and procedures when conducting investigations and disciplinary hearings. By working with a lawyer who understands the laws that apply in these cases and the regulations followed by licensing boards, you can make sure you will be able to take the correct steps to defend against disciplinary action.

Contact an Indiana Professional License Discipline Attorney

To learn more about how our firm can help you respond to a PLA investigation and defend against discipline to your license, schedule a free consultation by contacting our office at 463-219-2612.