Being accused and convicted of any crime can have an effect on your current and future situation. Depending on the details of the crime, you may be sentenced to fines or jail time. If you currently have a professional license, like a medical license, your career may also be affected. Continue reading to find out what to do if you’re a doctor accused of a crime.
Potential Crimes a Doctor May Receive
Medical professionals are subject to the same criminal charges as anyone else. Here are few of the most common charges that can put your medical license at risk.
- Medical Malpractice: This occurs when a medical professional negligently or knowingly makes a mistake.
- Driving Under the Influence: Driving under the influence can lead to DWI charges, as well as a loss of your professional license.
- Sexual Assault: Sexual assault charges, whether they occur at work, or in another environment, can affect your reputation and career.
- Drug Possession: Drug crimes are especially risky for medical doctors as they affect their ability to write prescriptions.
What to Do If Accused of a Crime
If you are a doctor that is currently being accused of a crime, there are a few things that you should do to protect your rights:
Understand Your Charges
It’s important that you fully understand what you’re being charged with, and what sentencing you may receive. This gives you the chance to better consider your defense options. You do have a right to find out what you were arrested for, as well as the specific charges you receive. If you’re working with a criminal defense lawyer, they may be able to get this information for you.
Consider Your Legal Options
You can further understand your legal charges by considering all of the available defense or negotiation options. Consider what will happen with each possibility. If your charges are dropped, will this be enough to maintain your medical license? If you negotiate and agree to a lessened sentence, what does this mean about your career?
Protect Your License
While you may immediately be thinking about the cost of your charges, as well as potential jail time, it is also important to think about your medical license. Once the charges are complete, you may have limited options for reinstating your professional license.
Contact a Defense Lawyer
The best way to fully understand the charges you’re dealing with and how they could affect your career is to work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer. A New Jersey criminal defense lawyer can help you build your case. There are a few things that your lawyer can do including interviewing previous and current patients and evaluating the details of the charges.
Your defense lawyer may also consider the steps that led to your charges. It is important to keep in mind that if there is already a case against you, it usually means that they have evidence. You do have a right to know what this evidence is and this information may be important to building your defense.
Contact an Experienced Evesham Township Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Criminal Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with criminal charges in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. It is even possible that you could lose your professional license. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The Law Office of Stephen R. Piper, LLC has successfully represented clients charged with criminal charges in Evesham Township, Mount Laurel, Willingboro, Pemberton, and throughout New Jersey. Call 856-333-3586 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.