There is perhaps no more honored profession in our society than a medical doctor. We place doctors on a pedestal. We afford them our highest honors. We pay them well.
The path to becoming a physician, though, is a difficult one. Among the many challenges to getting there? Making it through medical school. It's not just that you have to master the coursework, though that is essential. You've also got to demonstrate that you have the highest ethical values, that you take medicine seriously, and that you put the health and safety of your patients and your community above all else.
Plenty of students don't make it through. How do you make sure that you do?
Of course, job one is studying hard, so you study hard. Job two is staying out of trouble. It helps to have a backup, too, though. At the Lento Law Firm, we're dedicated to helping students succeed. We know your rights and how to use them to your advantage. We also know the Quinnipiac School of Medicine system and can help guide you through it. At the first sign of trouble, before you get to the point of dismissal, contact us to find out how we can help. Call 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Most medical school applicants assume medical school is all about high academic achievement. There are actually two keys to success, though. Academics is one, but professionalism is just as important. If you're struggling, you're likely having trouble in one area or the other.
- Academic Deficiencies: There are no unimportant courses in medical school. You need to know everything there is to know about the human body and the various conditions to which it can fall prey. You also need to have practical experience putting your classroom knowledge to use with real live patients. Should you fall behind in your coursework or fail to meet clinic expectations, you can quickly find yourself in trouble. Usually, the first step is remediation. That is, the school designs a program to help you get caught up. However, should you continue to struggle, dismissal can eventually become an option as well.
Quinnipiac's School of Medicine doesn't publish its evaluation procedures, but you can expect a Student Promotions Committee meets regularly to discuss your progress. That committee has the authority to assign remediation and to issue sanctions up to and including dismissal.
- Professional Misconduct: You can recover from a low grade in medical school. Quinnipiac has very little patience for misconduct, however. Like any QU student, you're responsible for following university policies—abiding by the Student Code of Conduct, for example, and all harassment. In addition, the School of Medicine has its own expectations of your conduct. Academic dishonesty is expressly prohibited; you're expected to treat instructors and other students with respect, and there's an extensive list of patient standards you must meet. Any violation of any of these policies can quickly result in dismissal.
Most medical schools maintain an Honor Code Committee to investigate misconduct. Some schools deal with misconduct through the Student Promotions Committee. Often, it can be difficult to navigate medical school disciplinary processes precisely because a given infraction might be subject to multiple committee oversight. If you've been accused of violating patient confidentiality, for example, you may be held accountable for acting unprofessionally, but your offense may also be treated as an academic failing. In any event, you can expect all of your personal and professional behaviors to be closely monitored throughout medical school.
Fighting Dismissal
Quinnipiac School of Medicine cannot simply dismiss you for an infraction. Whether you're in trouble for failing a course or you've been accused of stealing patient medication, you have the right to defend yourself. How you do that will likely depend on the specific nature of the charges against you.
- Academic Dismissals: Generally speaking, academic dismissals are based on objective facts. Either you're passing courses and clinic hours, or you're not. As a result, students usually have very little say in promotion decisions. However, you do have the right to question the Student Promotions Committee's decisions if you believe committee members are acting on incorrect information or if you feel their decisions are based on unfair bias.
- Professional Misconduct: Misconduct, on the other hand, is almost always based on a charge, and the school must prove that charge before it can issue a sanction like dismissal. You should expect the School of Medicine to conduct an investigation into any allegations. Further, you should have the opportunity to defend your innocence at a formal hearing. Hearings allow you the chance to submit evidence, call witnesses, and raise questions about any evidence against you. Likewise, if you should find yourself charged with a university offense or with Title IX sexual misconduct, the university has similar investigative and adjudicative procedures in place to protect your rights.
Quinnipiac University School of Medicine isn't clear on whether you're allowed to select an advisor to help you with your dismissal case. Nor does it indicate whether you might be able to bring an attorney with you to meetings and hearings.
You should keep in mind, though, that a Lento Law Firm attorney can do far more than simply accompany you to proceedings. They can work with you to develop your overall defense strategy, help you collect and organize evidence, suggest questions for witnesses, and draft any necessary documents. Of course, if they can be beside you during hearings, they can also offer advice as events unfold. Their most important job, though, is protecting your rights, and they'll do that from the moment you are charged until your final appeal is exhausted.
Fighting for Your Future
You probably already realize this, but it bears emphasis: in a medical school dismissal case, 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 Quinnipiac University School of Medicine decides to dismiss you, all of that will have been for nothing.
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.
