North Carolina offers medical students a wide variety of nationally renowned programs, from Chapel Hill to Durham and other locales. If you're fortunate enough to gain admittance to one of these programs—undoubtedly with much hard work—then your next target is graduation.
Medical school issues introduce a more immediate concern: overcoming potential sanctions so that you can graduate, hopefully on time. Poor academic performance, unfair grading practices, and allegations of misconduct are among the issues that stand between medical students and a promising future in medicine.
You may lack the time, energy, or experience to handle your medical school issue properly. A North Carolina medical school attorney-advisor has these essential assets. With a team to back them, a skilled attorney-advisor will seek the best outcome for you.
Academic and Professionalism Standards for Medical Students in North Carolina
Every medical school has standards and expectations. Medical programs of the caliber that North Carolina offers have high standards. Students can generally expect some type of sanction when they fall short of these expectations.
Your program's code of conduct may explain what is expected and what's prohibited—in the classroom, in the training field, and on your own time. East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine explains that the “ideals of academic honesty, integrity, and responsible citizenship govern the performance of all academic work and student conduct at the university.”
Behaviors prohibited by medical schools generally include:
- Abuse or inappropriate use of drugs or alcohol
- Cheating
- Unprofessional behavior towards patients, faculty, and fellow students
- Lying and other forms of deception
- Any other act that violates the program's student code of conduct
Most of your medical program's codes of conduct may be common-sense rules. Others may be more obscure, presenting the chance that you'll engage in certain behaviors without knowing you're breaking the rules. Whatever the nature of your alleged infraction, your attorney-advisor will gather all relevant facts. There is a defense whether you're credibly or falsely accused.
Each medical program handles misconduct in its own way—disciplinary bodies, terminology, and adjudication proceedings may vary from school to school. At Duke University School of Medicine, the Vice Dean for Education generally oversees professional misconduct cases. At your school (if not Duke), a committee or different type of faculty member may adjudicate allegations of unprofessionalism or academic misconduct.
In any case, you should have the chance to refute allegations against you. Depending on your circumstances, you may accept responsibility but request leniency. An attorney-advisor will develop a strategy befitting your circumstances.
Dismissal From Medical Programs in North Carolina
Dismissal from medical school is not the way to start a successful career in medicine. In fact, dismissal could end your career in medicine before it even starts.
Your medical program may dismiss you for:
- Serious academic misconduct or repeated academic infractions
- Serious instances of unprofessional behavior or repeated acts of unprofessionalism
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol in a classroom or training setting
- Being arrested for certain criminal offenses
- Continued academic underperformance
- Other violations of the school's code of conduct
Medical programs may expel students for many of the same reasons, though one school may be more lenient than another. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill may dismiss medical students for the reasons listed above. The Chancellor may, however, allow a student to re-apply if that student provides a convincing reason.
Even if your school was to allow re-application, you want to fight against possible expulsion. Whether or not you're able to re-apply to your medical program, a dismissal may:
- Prevent you from re-enrolling in your own medical program, and many other medical programs
- Cancel all academic progress you've made to date
- End your pursuit of a medical degree and career
- Cause you to face significant student debt without a medical degree
- Cause serious personal problems, from psychological harm to financial hardship
A capable defense by a North Carolina medical student attorney-advisor could help you avert these outcomes.
Remediation for North Carolina Medical Students
Medical schools expect hard work from their students, but they understand the challenging nature of their programs. Your school may allow you to remediate coursework one or more times but may dismiss you should you fail to show required improvement.
At Campbell University's School of Osteopathic Medicine, the administration recognizes that many students learn differently. As such, they have created Modified Course Study (MCOS) plans that allow students an alternative educational path. To be given an MCOS, the student is referred to the APPS Committee, who will review their case and design the plan for them. MCOS plans are designed specifically with the student in mind, so rarely are two plans the same. Additionally, if you are not able to pass the remediated course, exam, or clinical internship, you will be referred for dismissal.
If you're facing remediation, it's worth consulting an attorney-advisor. With a finite number of remediation attempts, better options may be available. Your advisor will scour your school's policies and determine if you can avoid the cost and reputational harm that may come with remediation.
Appealing Decisions by Medical Programs in North Carolina
Any detrimental decision is worth appealing. Filing an appeal does not generally have any financial cost and could prompt a complete reversal of an adverse ruling against you. An appeal shouldn't be a careless attempt to save your skin—it must be well-conceived, properly-worded, and promptly filed.
Medical students attending Wake Forest University have only seven days to file an appeal of an order of dismissal. This shows why preparation and quick action are absolutely essential when filing an appeal.
Whether or not you've filed an appeal before, an attorney-advisor can be an immense help. They may author, review, file, or aid your appeal in other ways. If your appeal is unsuccessful, Attorney Lento will reach out to your medical school's Office of General Counsel to attempt to negotiate on your behalf. Much of the time, these negotiations bring about a better outcome than a traditional lawsuit.
Hire an Experienced North Carolina Medical School Attorney-Advisor
Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento has made a career defending students in need. Medical students face great pressure and scrutiny, and lapses in judgment are bound to happen. Lento and his team believe that all medical students deserve a sound defense and generally deserve a second chance.
Our team will act quickly to defend you. We'll handle your case from start to finish. There is simply too much at stake for you to defend yourself without assistance. Our experience, legal resources, and counsel may be invaluable for you or a loved one attending medical school.
Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your medical school issue with our team. You can submit your case online. We're available around the clock to field calls and online submissions.
