PITTSBURGH MEDICAL AND NURSING LICENSE DEFENSE

If you are you a medical professional facing a criminal prosecution, what should you do?  Do you know that a prosecution for any crime can have a negative impact on your professional license?  This could affect your license status even if the alleged crime did not occur during work hours and had nothing to do with your employment. 

I suggest to you that the most important action you can take for your future is to hire “the right lawyer.”   This is Attorney Joseph Paletta, and I am not only an experienced criminal defense lawyer, but I also represent doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals in prosecutions by the Pennsylvania State licensing boards.  Not only that, but being a licensed professional myself, I understand the danger of losing a professional license and therefore the ability to work in my chosen profession.

Why did I quote “the right lawyer”?   A lawyer who just practices criminal defense law does not know all of the implications of a criminal prosecution on a medical or nursing license.  Even a good result in a criminal prosecution can cause a professional license suspension, sometimes for 5 and even 10 years.  Therefore, hiring the right lawyer is not only the right thing to do, it’s also an investment in your future. 

Contact me and allow my experience and knowledge to be the solution to your legal and license problems.

                                                Joseph Alexander Paletta, Esq.

www.palettalaw.com

D.U.I. and your Pennsylvania Medical/Nursing License

This blog is intended to inform doctors and nurses of the general implications of an arrest for the crime of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Controlled Substances (DUI) on a Medical or Nursing License.  This is Attorney Joseph Paletta and the focus of my law practice is DUI defense and Medical and Nursing License defense, and you must know that the former always affects the latter to some degree.  You see, regardless of the outcome, the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine and Nursing requires you to notify the applicable Board of the DUI arrest.

Regarding the outcome of a DUI, if you have no criminal record, you will likely qualify for the pre-trial diversion program known as Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD).  This program will permit the DUI charge to be resolved with no conviction, and your criminal record  expunged.  However, even if your prosecution is resolved by ARD, the Board of Nursing (BON) requires at least an alcohol evaluation by an approved evaluator such as the Gateway Rehabilitation Program.  If the result of that evaluation indicates an “impairment,” the BON may impose additional requirements on you to preserve your license.

If you do have a criminal record, you will likely not qualify for ARD, and the case will be resolved by a trial or plea.  Generally, a conviction of a Misdemeanor results in a five (5) year suspension of a Nursing License.  A conviction of a Felony like diversion (technically “acquisition or obtaining of possession of a controlled substance by … deception or subterfuge” 35 P.S. Section 780-113(a)(12)) will cause the suspension of a Nursing License for ten (10) years.

For more specific information about your situation, I strongly suggest that you contact my office for a consultation, and certainly before speaking to anyone from the BON or law enforcement.

Joseph A. Paletta, Esq. 

www.palettalaw.com

424 Frick Building

437 Grant Street

Pittsburgh, PA 

15219

412.391.7999

Drug Addiction In The Medical Profession

As explained in the video below, drug addiction in the Medical Profession is very common. 

Like Connecticut, Pennsylvania has also developed programs such as VRP & DMU which are targeted to help Doctors, Nurses and other Medical Professionals who may be suffering from a chemical dependency or other impairment.  These programs offer Medical Professionals options such as treatment and monitoring so that  they are able to safely practice their profession.

If you are a Doctor, Nurse or other Medical Professional who is in need of an Attorney to help with Medical License Defense or Criminal Investigations, contact Attorney Paletta immediately.  You should NOT answer any questions or speak to anyone relating to this without consulting with this office first!!

Call us now - 412.391.7999

Aimee@lawyerpaletta.com

source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xfC25y1dqQ&feature=related  (InsidersHealth.com)

Public Now Has Easier Online Access to Disciplinary Records

Pennsylvania is now providing easier online access to information about discipline of doctors and other professionals...

Read the full article on wtae by clicking the link below-

http://www.wtae.com/news/pennsylvania-eases-access-to-professionals-discipline-files/34703364

Medical License Defense

Medical Professionals Accused of Diversion?