The experience of medical school is probably quite a bit different from what you went through in college. Medical schools tend to be smaller than most universities; the instruction is more intimate; the connection to faculty is more direct. Medical schools often feel like self-contained communities. That's especially true at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, which prides itself on its “culture of collaboration and community.”
That doesn't mean the school won't dismiss you. All medical schools have a responsibility to ensure no one graduates who isn't entirely prepared for the practice of medicine. If you can't keep up academically, or you violate doctor-patient confidentiality in some way, you could easily find yourself looking for another career path.
The thing is, we all make mistakes, even medical school students. Misunderstandings happen; false accusations happen. Sometimes, medical schools overreact and assign sanctions like dismissal when a warning or probation might be more appropriate.
If you're in trouble, if someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal, what do you do?
You contact the Lento Law Firm. The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm is dedicated to helping students get fair treatment from their schools. We know your rights under the law. We also know how the West Virginia University School of Medicine operates. We've helped hundreds of students just like you get the justice they deserve, and we're on your side whenever you need us. Tell us about your situation today by calling 888-535-3686 or sending us a message online.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Medical school dismissals typically happen for one of two reasons: either a student has struggled to keep up academically, or they've committed some form of misconduct.
- Academic Deficiencies: You knew coming into medical school that the academic expectations would be high. There are no “less important” courses. You're expected to pass every one, and when you don't, there are consequences. Fail a class, or sometimes even just an exam, and the school's committee on student promotion will likely recommend you complete some type of remediation program. The committee can even require you to retake a year. Fail two courses, though, and the results could be even more serious. The student promotion committee typically has authority to assign probation, suspension, and, ultimately, dismissal.
- Misconduct: Students are almost never dismissed for one bad grade. One serious incident of misconduct, though, can certainly lead to dismissal. Doctor is a profession that relies on the public trust, and your academic, ethical, professional, and even personal decisions must be above reproach. Of course, like any other student at West Virginia University, you are expected to follow the university's academic integrity policy and abide by all rules of the Campus Student Code. You're also subject to federal Title IX guidelines regarding sexual discrimination and harassment. As a medical student, you're additionally subject to a very specific code of ethics and to certain standards of professionalism. This extends even to your personal life. A criminal conviction, for example, can be grounds for dismissal, even if the offense has nothing to do with your professional duties.
Fighting Dismissal
You can and should always fight any attempt to dismiss you from your medical school program. You have nothing to lose by defending yourself. Dismissal from one program makes it highly unlikely you could find another school to admit you. In simple terms, dismissal could mean the end of your career in health care.
How you go about fighting a dismissal, however, will depend on the nature of that dismissal.
- Academic Appeals: In almost all cases, academic promotion decisions are made solely by the school's promotions committee. Decisions are primarily based on empirical data—course grades, test scores, instructor evaluations—and these aren't ordinarily subject to debate. In addition, academic dismissals don't happen after one mistake. By the time the committee decides to dismiss you, you've likely had a number of warnings and a number of opportunities to improve. As a result, the committee doesn't invite you to defend your record or give you the opportunity to plead your case. It simply makes the decision. However, you do have the right to appeal a dismissal decision once it's made, particularly if you can point to extenuating circumstances that led to your deficiencies or if you can prove the committee's decision was based on some type of bias.
- Misconduct Hearings: In contrast, allegations of misconduct are always subject to debate. WVU School of Medicine can't simply charge you and dismiss you. It must prove, through investigation and adjudication, that you committed the misconduct. And, as part of the process, you have certain due process rights, such as the right to be presumed innocent, the right to review all evidence in the case, and the right to a formal hearing. Furthermore, at the hearing, you may offer evidence of your own, call witnesses to testify, and cross-examine any witnesses against you. Should you lose the hearing, you have the right to appeal the outcome.
Depending on the situation, the School of Medicine may or may not allow you to select an advisor to accompany you to case meetings and official proceedings. In either case, though, the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can play a crucial role in helping you prepare your defense. We can work with you to develop a strategy, help you gather and organize evidence, even give you practice in delivering your presentation. A university hearing is never a simple matter, and you need the very best help you can get in responding to the charges.
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 is willing to fight for those interests. You want the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. The firm's Student Defense Team knows the law as it applies to education. We also know how campus judicial systems work. We'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 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.
