Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Unforeseen Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

By Andrew Zwerling
April 29, 2013

A physician is arrested and charged with a felony, and immediately solicits the assistance of a criminal defense attorney. Upon conferring with the attorney, the physician agrees to accept a plea to a misdemeanor charge, because it will enable the physician to avoid any possibility of imprisonment. The physician then pleads guilty before the criminal court judge and allocutes to facts sufficient to meet the criteria for the misdemeanor charge. He exits the courtroom, relieved that the criminal matter seemingly is behind him.'

Months later, the physician is notified by his state's medical licensing agency that he is being brought up on charges of professional misconduct and that action against his medical license is being sought. The charge: conviction of a misdemeanor. Worse, under the state's statutory scheme, by virtue of the conviction, the issue of the physician's culpability for professional misconduct is not, and cannot be, the subject of dispute; rather, the only issue to be resolved is the severity of the sanctions to be meted out by the state licensing authority. Anxious over the existing threat to his medical license, the physician then learns of other potential hazards flowing from his guilty plea, including possible exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The physician is baffled by this, because the alleged criminal acts did not involve patient care.'

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.