You knew coming in that med school was going to be crazy tough, but it's managed to exceed your wildest expectations. You were sort of prepared for the difficult coursework, but the demands of clinic have surprised you, and meeting the school's personal and professional standards has been at least as tough as passing exams. One off-color remark is enough to get you into trouble. A bad day could spell the end of your career. That's a lot of pressure for anyone to be under, even a med student.
The good news is you don't have to handle medical school all by yourself. The Lento Law Firm is here for you.
How are attorneys supposed to help you with medical school? You might be surprised. You see, no one knows about bureaucracy better than lawyers. And no one knows about educational bureaucracy better than the lawyers at the Lento Law Firm. If you're struggling to keep your grades up, or you find yourself accused of cheating or harassment, we know how to guide you through your school's judicial processes and procedures. We know how the Texas Tech School of Medicine operates, we know your rights, and we're ready to use what we know to make sure you have every opportunity to earn your degree.
If you've got a problem, if someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you, don't try to handle it alone. Call 888-535-3686 or use the automated online form and find out just what the Lento Law Firm can do to help.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Making it through medical school is a bit like walking a minefield. There are dozens of things that can go wrong. The good news is that most of the things that can get you dismissed can be grouped into two basic categories. That may not make them easier to avoid, but it at least makes them easier to keep track of.
- Academic Deficiencies: First, of course, you have to excel as a student, both in the classroom and during clinic hours. There just are no unimportant subjects at this point in your academic career, and as the Student Handbook notes, “Faculty have an obligation to the students, to the school, and to the larger society to award passing grades only to those students who have demonstrated mastery of the course material.” Struggle in a course, and you can be placed on “Academic Watch.” Fail a course, and you'll be placed on “Academic Warning.” You'll also probably have to complete a remediation program, and you could wind up repeating an entire year of coursework. Fail three or more courses, though, and you can be dismissed entirely. Academic deficiencies are generally handled by the school's Grading and Promotion Committee (PGC).
- Misconduct: Academic dismissals usually only happen after a series of mistakes. One instance of misconduct, though, can be enough to get you dismissed if it's serious enough. As a med student at Texas Tech, you're subject to several disciplinary policies. First, you must adhere to the program's general conduct expectations. That includes things like trespassing, vandalism, misuse of computer resources, and violence of any type. You're expected to abide by an academic honor code. That means no cheating and no plagiarism. You're subject to the federal government's Title IX policy, which bars sexual discrimination and harassment. And as a med student, you're supposed to follow the ethical and professional standards of your profession.
As if all of that wasn't enough, you must also demonstrate exemplary character both professionally and personally. A criminal conviction— even for something as minor as drinking and driving—can be grounds for dismissal.
Most misconduct is handled by the school's Student Conduct Board. Like the PGC, this committee has the power to implement a range of sanctions up to and including dismissal.
Finally, note that academics and misconduct aren't always strictly separate from one another. Professionalism, in particular, is under the purview of the PGC. As a result, it isn't always clear whether a given accusation will fall under the PGC, the Student Conduct Board, or both. This is just one important reason why it's useful to have an attorney from the Lento Law Firm on your side: they can help you navigate the many complexities of the system.
Fighting Dismissal
You're always better off fighting dismissal. Once Texas Tech has expelled you, you'll find it virtually impossible to find another program to accept you. Dismissal, then, means the end of your medical career. Period.
How you fight dismissal, though, will depend on the precise nature of that dismissal.
- Academic Dismissals: For the most part, academic dismissals are based on objective facts. The grades you earn aren't a matter of debate (though you do always have the option of appealing your grade in a class). This means that there's no need for an investigation or a hearing. The PGC meets at the end of each semester to review all students' work. They make decisions based on your record. However, the PGC frequently invites students to defend their record, particularly in cases where dismissal is a possible outcome. In addition, you have the right to appeal the PGC's decisions to an Appeals Committee. As part of the appeals process, you may offer opening and closing statements, present evidence, and call witnesses to testify. You may also bring an advisor with you to appeals hearings. A Lento Law Firm attorney can't speak on your behalf, but they can be on hand to offer advice.
- Misconduct Dismissals: Misconduct dismissals normally arise out of allegations. You always have the right to defend yourself from charges via a hearing before the Student Conduct Board. Again, you can offer arguments, present evidence, and examine and cross-examine witnesses. As with academic dismissals, you do have the right to appeal the Conduct Board's decisions, but you are not entitled to a hearing. Rather, the med school President makes the final decision. You should also be aware that while you are allowed an advisor during Student Conduct Board Hearings, this advisor cannot be an attorney.
Whether or not you're allowed to bring an attorney with you to investigative meetings and judicial hearings, you need someone from the Lento Law Firm on your side throughout these processes. Even if they can't be on hand physically, they can play a crucial role in developing your defense, organizing evidence, preparing questions for witnesses, drafting documents, and generally coaching you on how to present your case. More importantly, they'll make sure that you're afforded every due process right you deserve.
Fighting for Your Future
If you're facing dismissal, you need to know 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. The threat of dismissal puts all of that in jeopardy. It means having to look for a new career. It means having to pay back thousands of dollars in student loans without a medical degree to help you do it.
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 want an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. 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.
