If you didn't know it going in, you know it now: Few careers are built on public trust the way medical careers are. Doctors, nurses, physical therapists—they literally hold the lives of others in their hands. If you plan to go into one of these fields, you have to know that your patients and your community are going to expect the very best of you.
You shouldn't be surprised, then, that the University of Kentucky College of Medicine expects the best from you now. They're getting you ready for your career, not just in terms of academic standards but in terms of professionalism and personal ethics as well.
Here's the thing, though: even doctors aren't perfect, and you're not a doctor just yet. You're still in school, still learning, and that means you're going to make your fair share of mistakes. Most faculty, supervisors, and administrators understand this. You've got to do your best, but your best should be good enough. Occasionally, though, you may run into those who just expect too much, more than is reasonable. If it's happened to you, if someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal, you need to know what to do.
You start by contacting attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento. Med students are sometimes surprised by the idea that a lawyer could help them with their academic future. Don't be. Joseph D. Lento and his team know the law; they know how medical schools, and particularly the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, operate. They've studied your school's judicial procedures and can help you navigate them. Most importantly, they're committed to your success. If you're in trouble as a med student, you owe it to yourself to find out just what they can do for you.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Let's start with the basics: Just what is it that can get you dismissed from UK COM? Once you know that, you'll have better odds of staying out of trouble.
As a med student, you're held accountable in two separate areas: academics and professionalism. You can find information about both in the school's Rules of Procedures.
- In terms of academics, UK COM expects you to excel in all your coursework. That includes classes and clinical studies. Low exam grades or course grades are most often handled through remediation, but the school's Student Progress and Promotions Committee reviews your entire record at the end of each term and has the power to recommend suspension and even dismissal for those students who consistently struggle. Likewise, poor performance during clinical rotations is subject to disciplinary sanctions up to and including dismissal.
- While academics are important at medical school, professional and ethical misconduct is generally treated as more serious than low grades. UK COM expects students to treat patients with respect, maintain patient confidentiality, and communicate effectively with colleagues. You're also expected to maintain high standards of personal behavior. Just like any other student at the University of Kentucky, you're expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct and Title IX prohibitions on sexual harassment. Your behavior is under even greater scrutiny, though. A DUI, for instance, or a charge of domestic abuse, can be grounds for dismissal, even if they happen off-campus. Like academic deficiencies, professional standards violations are under the purview of the Student Progress and Promotions Committee.
The Adjudication Process at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine
The UK College of Medicine is somewhat reticent to share details of its investigation and adjudication processes other than to say these are handled by the Student Progress and Promotion Committee, which makes sanction recommendations to the Dean of the College of Medicine.
Certainly, in the case of dismissal, though, you should have a right to defend yourself at a full hearing, especially if you've been accused of some form of misconduct. Such allegations are never clear-cut, and only a hearing can determine whether or not you are Responsible. As part of this defense, you should have the right to present evidence, make arguments, and call witnesses to testify on your behalf. You should also have the right to raise questions of any witnesses against you.
Of course, no university judicial proceeding follows the formal structure of a criminal justice trial. Among other differences, you can expect to be judged by a different standard. Where defendants must be found guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt,” you can be found Responsible (guilty) if decision-makers are more than fifty percent certain you committed an offense.
Another key difference between trials and university hearings has to do with your right to an attorney. Such a right is sacred in a criminal case. In a university case, you'll likely be given the right to an advisor, but the school may prohibit you from bringing an attorney to hearings. It's important you understand that you need a lawyer on your side, even if they can't accompany you to hearings. Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team can help you organize your strategy, work with you to draft documents, assist you in collecting evidence, prepare questions for witnesses, and coach you in presentation tactics. More importantly, they can monitor your case and make sure the College of Medicine treats you fairly. In the absence of clear judicial procedures, that can be crucial to protecting your future.
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 Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. Joseph D. Lento and his team 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 Joseph D. Lento and his team can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
