Professional License Defense
When your professional reputation is challenged, it can be difficult to face the personal matters that have led up to the challenge. When a drunk driving charge, a growing dependency on prescription medicine or mental health issues threaten to destabilize your career, it is important to work with an attorney who can protect your rights and advocate on your behalf.
All hearings in Pennsylvania professional license cases are held in Harrisburg.
Attorney Brian E. Quinn regularly represents physicians, nurses and other health care professionals who reside and work in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton or any other locations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
At The Law Offices of Brian E. Quinn, we are dedicated to professional license defense. Our attorney works with professionals all over the country whose Pennsylvania license is in jeopardy. If you face the possibility of losing your professional or occupational license, contact our firm today. Call 866-657-7318.
Experienced Assistance When You Face License Suspension Or Revocation
For people who hold an occupational or professional license, a personal issue or a criminal charge can have a significant effect on their standing. Subsequent investigations and licensing board hearings can add to the pressure they feel.
The Law Offices of Brian E. Quinn supplies needed legal support to individuals inundated by questions, hounded by investigators and frightened by impending hearings. Our firm’s attorney brings diverse skills and knowledge related to criminal and administrative law to our focused practice.
Serving Business And Health Professionals
Attorney Quinn has successfully defended professionals in administrative hearings before numerous licensing boards, including the State Board of Medicine and the State Board of Nursing. He has been instrumental in helping clients from a diverse range of occupations, including:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Chiropractors
- Veterinarians
- Dentists
- Social workers
- Marriage and family therapists
- Professional counselors
- Nursing home administrators
- Speech-language and hearing examiners
- Occupational therapists
- Psychologists and psychiatrists
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
- Osteopaths
- Accountants
- Real estate agents and appraisers
- Vehicle manufacturers, dealers and salespeople
- Geologists
- Navigators
- Other professionals who hold a license and are subject to board discipline
With nearly four decades of focused experience before Pennsylvania’s licensing boards, attorney Quinn brings a strategic and personal approach to every case he handles. He defends licensed professionals on both the administrative and criminal fronts. This combined approach is critical when a criminal charge threatens your standing with the Medical Board.
Clients from Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania have trusted our managing attorney with their most pressing professional challenges, and his track record reflects that commitment.
Steps You Can Take To Help Improve Your Outcome
If your license is under investigation, acting early matters. While every case is different and no attorney can guarantee a specific result, there are meaningful steps that may help protect your position:
- Retain an attorney before speaking with any investigator or board representative
- Avoid making voluntary statements without legal counsel present
- Gather and preserve documentation, including patient records and professional communications
- Proactively engage with an approved treatment or rehabilitation program if substance use or mental health is a factor
Taking these steps voluntarily, before the board demands action, can demonstrate good faith and may be a factor in how your case proceeds. However, the strength of any defense will still depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved. We encourage you to contact us as early as possible so our attorney can evaluate your situation and walk you through your options.
Can An Out-Of-State Charge Affect Your Pennsylvania License?
Yes. If you were disciplined in another state, Pennsylvania law allows the Medical Board to impose its own sanctions based on disciplinary action taken by a licensing authority in another jurisdiction. This can apply even if your Pennsylvania license has been inactive for years.
An out-of-state criminal charge involving a drug offense, DUI or professional misconduct can independently trigger a review by the Pennsylvania board, even if the charge has not yet resulted in a conviction.
Your Rights During An Administrative Board Hearing
Pennsylvania’s administrative procedures provide important protections for license holders facing disciplinary proceedings. Specifically, you have the right to:
- Receive written notice of all allegations against you
- Be represented by legal counsel throughout the process
- Cross-examine witnesses presented by the prosecution
- Present your own evidence and testimony
- Appeal the board’s final decision
Understanding these rights is only part of the equation. Knowing how to properly assert them at each stage of the proceeding is equally important. We can help you navigate the process and make sure your rights are fully protected at every step.
How Can Criminal Charges Impact Your Medical Board Case?
The Medical Board can open its own disciplinary proceeding based on an arrest, a conviction or even a plea. It does not have to wait for your criminal case to conclude. Charges involving controlled substances, DUI or crimes of moral turpitude are taken especially seriously.
If you are facing criminal charges, your license may already be at risk. Attorney Quinn knows how to defend you on both the criminal and administrative fronts, and he can help you protect the career you have worked so hard to build.
Frequently Asked Questions About Professional License Defense In Pennsylvania
If you are facing a licensing investigation or board proceeding, you likely have pressing questions about your rights and options. Below are answers to some of the questions our clients ask most often.
An Investigator From The Department Of State Has Arrived At My House. He Said He Just Wants To Clarify A Few Issues. Do I Need To Speak To Him?
Absolutely not. Do not allow the investigator into your house and do not speak with the investigator. Ask for his card with his contact information and consult with an attorney immediately. The attorney will speak with the investigator on your behalf. Anything you say to that investigator may be used against you.
I Have Received An Order In The Mail Ordering Me To Appear For A Physical And Mental Examination Before A Psychiatrist. Do I Need To Attend?
Yes. If you fail to attend this examination, the prosecution will obtain an Order from the State Board suspending your license; however, you should consult an attorney before attending this examination so that you are aware of what will occur during the examination and the attorney can accompany you to the appointment.
I Received A Notice From My Licensing Board About A Misconduct Allegation. Do I Need Legal Representation?
You are not required to hire a lawyer, but it is in your best interests to consult one. Anything you say to the board can be used against you. An attorney can speak with the board’s investigators to determine what the allegations are and what will be needed to prepare your defense.
I Am A Doctor And Have Been Arrested On Suspicion Of A Violation Of The Controlled Substances Act. Do I Need To Disclose This Arrest To The Medical Board?
Yes. 40 P.S. § 1303.903 governs this question. A physician arrested on suspicion of a violation of the Controlled Substances Act must disclose this arrest to the Medical Board within 60 days of the arrest.
Contact A Philadelphia Medical License Defense Lawyer
Preserving your professional standing in the communities in which you serve is our priority at The Law Offices of Brian E. Quinn. If you would like to speak with an attorney about your impending administrative hearing or about some other aspect of the professional license defense process, contact us today. Call 866-657-7318.
