A doctor is among the most esteemed professions in all of society. We trust doctors, and we expect them to live up to that trust by maintaining the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and personal behavior.
It's the job of medical schools like the UC Davis School of Medicine to instill those qualities in all their graduates. That's why so many students wind up dismissed every year. Either they can't maintain the fast academic pace, and their coursework and clinical work suffer, or they commit some form of misconduct that calls into question their fitness to become physicians.
High expectations are important, and you want to graduate from a medical school with a reputation for strict discipline. The more esteemed your school, the more valuable your degree. Beyond that, though, you want your patients and your community to know they can trust you implicitly.
There are high expectations, though, and there are unreasonable expectations. If your medical school is holding you to standards that are just too high, if someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you, you need someone who's on your side, someone to protect your rights and help you defend yourself. You need an attorney from the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Generally speaking, UC Davis dismisses medical school students for two reasons: either they aren't meeting academic standards, or they've committed some form of misconduct.
- Academic Deficiencies: You knew coming in that medical school would be a challenge. It should come as no surprise to you, then, that there are serious consequences if you're struggling in your coursework or when it comes to fulfilling clinical expectations. According to the Academic Standing policy, A Y mark in a pre-clinical course, a Y mark during clinical years, or a USMLE failure are all grounds for an academic warning. An F or a second USMLE failure can lead to probation. More serious academic deficiencies are subject to dismissal.
- Professional Misconduct: UC Davis takes professional misconduct even more seriously than it takes academic deficiencies. Academic dismissals require that you consistently struggle in the program. Professional misconduct dismissals can happen as the result of a single incident. As the school notes, professionalism is a "core competency." You're expected to treat patients with respect, get along with colleagues and other health professionals, and generally abide by all ethical and professional standards of the medical field. Any lapse can result in dismissal.
Progress decisions at the UC Davis School of Medicine are in the hands of the Committee on Student Promotions (CSP). This committee meets regularly to review all student academic records and, as necessary, to review allegations of professional misconduct. It has the power to assign remediation or to require you to repeat a year of the program. Further, it has the power to assign a variety of sanctions, from a verbal warning to probation and suspension to outright dismissal. However, while it may recommend dismissal, that recommendation must be approved by the Faculty Evaluation Committee (FEC).
Of course, it goes without saying that you are expected to abide by all UC Davis policies concerning general misconduct, academic misconduct, and sexual misconduct, just like any other UC Davis student. However, should you be accused of committing such an offense, the investigation and hearing are normally under the purview of the CSP and, if necessary, the FEC. The exception is sexual misconduct, which, because it is governed by federal law (Title IX), must be handled by the UC Davis Title IX Coordinator.
Appealing Dismissal
The prospect of dismissal is a scary proposition. However, it's important to remember that the school can't simply dismiss you without affording you due process. There are established procedures in place, you have the right to defend yourself, and you have some important rights to help you do so.
- The initial decision regarding dismissal is made by the CSP in a closed-door session. That is, you do not ordinarily have the right to attend CSP sessions or defend your academic or professional records in person.
- If the CSP recommends dismissal, the case is then forwarded to the FEC.
- The FEC undertakes a "comprehensive review" of your academic and professional record.
- As part of this review, you are allowed to speak to the committee for up to 30 minutes. You may bring a faculty or staff member with you as support, though they may not speak on your behalf.
- You may further submit written documentation in support of your defense.
- Once the committee has completed its review, it must decide whether or not to uphold the CSP's recommendation. In either case, it then issues you a written notification of its findings.
Unfortunately, the UC Davis School of Medicine does not allow you to be accompanied by an attorney during a review. Nevertheless, it is vital that you seek representation from the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm as soon as you realize you may have a problem. While they may not be able to speak on your behalf, they can organize your defense, help you gather evidence and draft documents, and work with you on your actual presentation. Most importantly, they can monitor the entire process to make sure your rights aren't violated in any way.
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. 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 Student Defense Team was built to help students. The firm's attorneys know the law as it applies to education. They also know how campus judicial systems work. They're highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and have 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 Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
