Chicago Medical License Defense Attorney for Negligence in Practice

Lawyers Defending Against Discipline to Professional Licenses in Illinois

A valid professional license is required to practice medicine in Illinois, and physicians, surgeons, osteopaths, or other doctors will want to take immediate steps to address anything that may threaten their license. Claims of negligence in the practice of medicine may result in disciplinary action such as the suspension or revocation of a medical license. When this type of complaint is received, a doctor should contact an experienced attorney to determine their options for defending their license.

The lawyers of Williams & Nickl, LLC have over 55 years of combined experience addressing licensing issues with the Illinois Medical Board and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). As the former IDFPR Chief of Prosecutions, Attorney Edward Williams can provide invaluable insight into the procedures followed in these cases and the best ways to minimize disciplinary action. Edward and Fred have represented more than 3,000 clients in IDFPR cases, and are uniquely positioned to provide guidance and representation for those facing discipline to their medical license.

Accusations of Negligence in Practice

Doctors have what is known as a “duty of care” to their patients. They are required to act in a way that a reasonable person with a similar level of knowledge and skill would act, and they must provide appropriate care that protects patients from the unnecessary risk of harm. Failure to meet this duty of care may be considered negligence. However, an Illinois physician will typically not face discipline to their medical license unless they commit “gross negligence.”

A doctor commits gross negligence if they cause injury to a patient by acting recklessly or carelessly in the course of treatment or if they disregard a patient’s safety and well-being. Gross negligence may include:

• Misdiagnosis – Incorrectly diagnosing or failing to diagnose a patient’s condition may be considered gross negligence if a doctor failed to properly consider a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and/or test results.
• Surgical errors – These may include egregious mistakes committed during surgery, such as leaving instruments inside a patient’s body, operating on the incorrect part of the body, or performing a procedure on the wrong patient.
• Medication errors – A doctor may cause an injury to a patient by prescribing or administering an incorrect medication or dosage or failing to consider harmful side effects or allergic reactions.
• Failure to obtain informed consent – Before performing a medical procedure, a doctor should ensure that a patient fully understands the risks of the procedure and potential alternative treatments. Failure to disclose information that another reasonably qualified medical provider would provide to a patient may be considered negligence.
• Patient abandonment – A doctor may be considered negligent if they terminate a doctor-patient relationship without providing reasonable notice to the patient or giving the patient an opportunity to find another qualified medical provider.

If you are a physician, osteopath, surgeon, psychiatrist, or other type of medical doctor, you should address claims that you provided negligent or substandard care immediately. Our lawyers can help you respond to any complaints or notices from the IDFPR, and we will work with you to determine the best strategy for minimizing any discipline that you may face.

We have successfully represented clients facing discipline to medical licenses for a wide variety of reasons, including negligence in practice. In one case, we worked with an internal medicine physician who was accused of multiple violations, including failure to conduct proper physical examinations. The IDFPR prosecutor sought a suspension of our client’s license, but we were able to negotiate a short probation agreement, after which we were able to help restore the license to fully unencumbered status.

Contact an Illinois Medical License Defense Lawyer

If a formal complaint has been lodged against you, or if you are facing any other claims of negligence in the practice of medicine, you should contact our attorneys as soon as possible. We will provide a one-hour consultation at no charge in which we will review your case, determine the forms of discipline you may face, and explain your legal options for defending your license. In many cases, we are able to help our clients resolve matters before the IDFPR without any public discipline to their license. Call our office at 312-335-9470 to schedule your free consultation today.