The Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University (CMU COM) is a stepping stone to the medical career you envision. Yet, faculty at the school sometimes place stumbling blocks in front of students, and allegations of unprofessional conduct can trigger a devastating fall from grace for students who don’t deftly address or maneuver around them.
Let’s make it clear: Professionalism concerns are not easily averted, especially because these allegations can be more than they seem. A student accused of unprofessional conduct may be the target of discrimination, retaliation, or other veiled forms of malice.
Because many professionalism guidelines are vague and ambiguous, they can be easily misused by those who wield them dishonestly. Consider the possibility that, if you’ve been accused of unprofessionalism at CMU COM, you may be confronting a bad-faith attempt to smear you and even remove you from the program.
Any allegation of unprofessionalism requires a show of strength from the accused student, as an accuser may be testing your willingness to defend yourself and your career. Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team right now at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to discuss the proper response to these allegations.
The Chippewa Medicine Definition of Professionalism (and Unprofessionalism)
Chippewas studying to become medical professionals are expected to act in a manner consistent with a respected, ethical medical professional.
The CMU College of Medicine Student Handbook provides a blueprint detailing what a professional medical student looks like:
“Students should demonstrate compassion, integrity, and concern for others…possess the perseverance, diligence, and dependability…exercise good judgment and emotional stability…and develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and others.
The College’s Professionalism Policy reveals that students are expected to:
- Be ethical
- Be accountable
- Strive for excellence
- Be respectful
- Be punctual
A student who has earned admission to CMU COM should have no problem meeting these expectations, right? Unfortunately, the matter is not so simple.
Do These Definitions Seem Clear? Think Again.
Most professionalism policies, including CMU COM’s, seem harmless. Most would say they even seem reasonable. However, our Student Defense Team has seen how these policies are inherently problematic, particularly because:
- Language throughout professionalism policies is wholly subjective, meaning there is no certainty in what the actual policies are
- Because of this subjectivity, students cannot know exactly which standards are being applied to them (and therefore cannot adapt their behavior to meet those standards)
- The interpretative nature of professionalism guidelines means they are ripe for abuse by those who have ulterior agendas towards a student they accuse of unprofessional conduct
- Despite these glaring flaws, allegations of unprofessional conduct can result in severe discipline against students, potentially even leading to their removal from the CMU College of Medicine
Even more concerning, CMU COM policy states that “observation of student professional behavior is an ongoing process at the College of Medicine.” This means students’ professionalism is constantly scrutinized, even in situations they might consider informal or outside the scope of their medical education.
This 24/7 scrutiny opens the door further for weaponized allegations of unprofessional conduct, as opportunistic accusers might be seeking that gotcha moment that allows them to punish someone they have hostile feelings toward.
Features of the CMU COM Professionalism Policy That Are Particularly Ripe for Abuse
Let’s examine a few particular features of the CMU COM professionalism guidelines so we can show just how open to interpretation such guidelines can be:
- A student can be disciplined for not “behaving ethically”: Ethics and the medical profession are inseparable. While some behaviors are blatantly unethical (e.g., stealing narcotics for personal use), most students strive to act ethically. Accusing a student of being “unethical” is a serious allegation that is too often leveled carelessly.
- You might be deemed unprofessional for not “taking responsibility for” your actions: Being “accountable” is an admirable trait, but what does it really mean? If a student is accused of something they did not do, would it be unaccountable for them to deny the allegation? These questions highlight the problematic nature of this particular professionalism guideline.
- “Unauthorized use of parking lots” is considered unprofessional: This feature of CMU COM’s professionalism shows how frivolous accusations of unprofessional conduct can be. Is it reasonable to formally sanction a student for parking in the wrong lot? We’d say no, but the professionalism policy technically makes this a sanctionable offense.
“Lack of courtesy and respect” is one of the more glaringly subjective professionalism guidelines. A person’s sense of courtesy and respect can vary based on where they were born, how they were raised, and even the person they are dealing with. To sanction a student based on such a subjective standard is typically unfair.
Are You Feeling Discriminated Against? You May Not Be Imagining It.
The ambiguity within CMU COM’s professionalism guidelines is particularly troubling because humans are prone to:
- Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Allowing personal conflicts to bleed into their academic and professional lives
- Other behaviors that highlight the imperfect nature of being human
If one of your superiors or peers just doesn’t like you, they might accuse you of disrespect, unethical conduct, or other behaviors that might trigger a disciplinary process under the school’s ultra-broad professionalism guidelines.
How to Protect Yourself When Accused of Unprofessional Conduct at CMU COM
The obvious flaws in CMU COM’s professionalism policies don’t change the fact that you can be disciplined under the letter of these policies.
Knowing this, it is imperative that you:
- Take advantage of formal opportunities to disprove baseless allegations of unprofessional conduct
- Prepare any witnesses who can testify to your character or specific actions during disciplinary proceedings
- Be prepared to appeal any discipline you face based on unfair or inaccurate allegations of unprofessional conduct
It is also critical that you embrace every available resource. You could be facing formal discipline that has a tangible adverse effect on your reputation, education, and professional hopes.
We consider our Student Defense Team to be the ultimate resource for students facing charges of unprofessionalism. You will realize true, immense value from our guidance, willingness to negotiate with universities’ general counsel, psychological and emotional support, and determination to protect you from the threat of discipline.
Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team right now at 888-535-3686 or contact us online. Don’t wait.