If you've been at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine (JCESOM) for more than a minute, you already know that medical schools take things pretty seriously. Obviously, that extends to the curriculum. Doctors sort of need to know what they're doing before they graduate. That seriousness also extends, though, to your professional and even personal behaviors. Mistreat a patient or wind up with a DUI, and you could quickly find yourself looking for another career path.
How do you make sure it doesn't happen to you? How do you stay out of trouble and make it to graduation?
That's simple: at the very first sign of trouble, you contact the Lento Law Firm. The Lento Law Firm was founded to handle student issues. We know the law, and we know how your school operates. If someone at JCESOM has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you, don't wait. Call us today at 888-535-3686, or use our automated online form to get in touch.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
You probably heard lots of horror stories about medical school when you were an undergraduate. And there's no question that medical school is tough. It's so tough that lots of students don't make it through. However, your school can't just arbitrarily dismiss you. It has to have a good reason. The two most common reasons are academic deficiencies and misconduct. You can find detailed information about both in your JCESOM handbook.
- Academic Deficiencies: First and foremost, of course, you're a student, and JCESOM holds you responsible for learning everything you need to know about the theory and practice of medicine. You're expected to excel in all of your courses and under clinical supervision. If you fail a course, or even an exam, you can expect the school to assign you a remediation plan or to repeat an entire year. You can also be placed on Academic Probation. Ultimately, though, if you can't keep up academically, you can also be suspended or outright dismissed.
- Misconduct: JCESOM wants you to succeed. The school invested a lot of time, energy, and money in bringing you to campus. So instructors can forgive academic failings. The school has little tolerance for misconduct, though. One offense can sometimes be enough to get you dismissed. And there's a lot to worry about when it comes to misconduct. As you might expect, for instance, JCESOM holds you responsible for all types of cheating and plagiarism. You must also abide by general standards of conduct. That means avoiding things like drug use, weapons possession, assault, and trespassing. Like any university student, you're subject to federal Title IX guidelines regarding sexual harassment. You must gain competencies in professionalism. That means learning how to communicate effectively, learning the basics of doctor-patient confidentiality, and even maintaining a “professional appearance.” And oh, by the way, you can also be dismissed for committing any criminal offense.
All promotion decisions at JCESOM, whether they relate to academics or misconduct, are in the hands of the school's Academic and Professionalism Standards Committee (APSC). This committee is made up of faculty members from the science and clinical faculty as well as one student from each year. The committee has the power to assign remediation and to issue sanctions up to and including dismissal.
Fighting Dismissal
You always have the right to challenge dismissal decisions at JCESOM. However, how you go about defending yourself can differ considerably depending on the exact nature of the dismissal threat.
- Academic Deficiencies: Generally speaking, the APSC makes decisions without input from students. You can, of course, appeal an individual grade, and this can sometimes have a significant effect on APSC decisions. The APSC itself, though, bases its decisions, including dismissal decisions, on the objective fact of your coursework. As a result, the committee doesn't need to conduct an investigation or hold a hearing into such matters. However, you do have the right to appeal the APSC's decisions once they've been made. As part of the process, you may submit documents in defense of your record as well as a personal statement back to the APSC. Should the APSC reject your appeal, you may then appeal to the school's Second Level Appeals Committee. This committee may only consider the materials you submitted to the APSC, though. And finally, you can submit a third-level appeal to the Dean of the School of Medicine.
- Misconduct: In contrast to your academic record, misconduct is almost always subject to debate. In these cases, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs conducts an investigation before any further action is taken. If the Associate Dean determines there is probable cause to believe you committed an offense, the APSC then holds a hearing into the matter. The hearing gives you an opportunity to submit evidence, call witnesses, and refute aspects of the case against you.
The JCESOM handbook does not indicate whether or not you can bring an advisor with you to APSC hearings or whether or not that advisor can be an attorney. Most schools do allow such an advisor, but only in an advising capacity. That is, an attorney cannot speak on your behalf.
No matter what the specifics of your case, though, or whether or not JCESOM affords you the right to an advisor, a Lento Law Firm attorney can be crucial to your defense. In fact, representation in judicial proceedings is only a very small part of what our attorneys do. They also draft documents, gather and organize evidence, coach you in presenting your case, and help with anything else that's involved in mounting a strong defense. Most importantly, your Lento Law Firm attorney is there to keep an eye on your rights and to make sure you get a fair and just result.
Fighting for Your Future
Make no mistake: if you're facing dismissal, everything is on the line. You've worked for many years to get to this point. You earned an undergraduate degree; you spent dozens, maybe hundreds of hours studying for the MCAT; you filled out applications, convinced referees to write on your behalf, and sat through demanding interviews. If JCESOM dismisses you, all of that will have been for nothing. There's virtually no chance you'll find another school willing to accept you. You'll need to find a new career path, and you'll have to start paying back student loans for a degree you'll never get.
There's simply too much on the line to go into this situation alone. Judicial rules and procedures can be complex, and your school is not on your side in this instance. You need someone who is, someone who has your best interests at heart and who is willing to fight for those interests. You need an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
Our Student Defense Team is highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and has helped hundreds of students just like you get the justice they deserve.
If you're facing disciplinary action, don't wait to see what might happen. Find out exactly what the Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
