Protecting Veterinary Licenses in Multiple States

Just like doctors, veterinarians are human and therefore are not perfect. They make mistakes just like everyone, but the implications can cause serious injury or even death. No pet owner wants to see their furry or feathered friend killed by their vet’s negligence. The pet owner can file a complaint, causing the veterinarian to lose his or her license.

During the process, you may have sought legal help. Maybe you weren’t happy with the decision and filed an appeal. After time, you might have just accepted the decision and complied with the board’s punishment.

But did you think about your veterinary license in other states? If you are facing a board sanction in Florida, you’ll have to notify the other states of the sanction as well. If you don’t notify them within a certain period of time, you could face penalties in the other states as well. This can affect your livelihood, as you can be left with nowhere to work and earn income.

Don’t Forget Your Other Licenses

Even though you don’t want your licenses in other states to be affected by the punishment you are facing in another state, you must let your attorney know about your other licenses. This is so you can fulfill your obligations. Don’t expect your attorney to ask you about other licenses.

Don’t think that other states will ignore your board sanction. State veterinary boards often notify other jurisdictions when they’ve taken action against a licensee. It is up to you to notify them first, though. If you had your license suspended in one state and you fail to notify the other states right away, they may decide that you screwed up twice—the first time for misconduct and a second time for failing to notify the states in a timely manner.

Not only must you notify other states about board sanctions, but also crimes as well. If you pled guilty to a crime or were convicted of a crime, you must report it to the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine within 30 days.

Face the Punishment 

If you are facing punishment from the board, discuss with your lawyer the possibility of an appeal. If you have no grounds for an appeal, take the steps to serve your punishment as soon as possible. If you are facing license suspension, agree to it. You may want to check if you can serve out your suspension in one state and continue to work in another state.

Keep Your License with Help From a Tampa Veterinarian Licensing Lawyer

If you are facing disciplinary action from your state board, it’s important that you protect yourself. If you have veterinary licenses in other states, they could get suspended or revoked as well.

Should you just abide by whatever punishment you are given by the state board? Should you file an appeal? The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. can help you understand your options so you can make the right decision. I have 30 years of experience representing veterinarians and other licensed professionals. For a free consultation, contact my office today by calling (813) 968-6633.

Resource:

veterinarynews.dvm360.com/license-sense-steps-handling-state-board-sanction