You made it into the California Northstate University College of Medicine (CNUCOM). That's an enormous accomplishment. Your quest to be a physician isn't over, though. Not by a long shot. If you want to get to the next stage—your residency—you'll need to complete your coursework successfully, impress your instructors, and maintain the highest standards of ethical, professional, and personal behavior. Even the slightest misstep at this point could result in dismissal.
If you've made a mistake—or been accused of making a mistake—and someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you, you can't handle this situation on your own. You need the very best help you can get.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team exists to help students like you get the fair treatment they deserve. We know what you're up against. We know the law and what rights it affords you. And we know how your school works. We've worked with hundreds of students, and no matter what specific problem you're facing, you can count on us to do everything in our power to get you the best possible resolution to your case.
To find out more about how we can help, call the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or use our automated online form.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Medical school students typically face dismissal for one of two reasons: either they're struggling to pass their coursework, or they've committed some form of misconduct.
- Academic Deficiencies: You aren't an undergraduate anymore. Failing a class or clinic hours won't just put a dent in your GPA. Basically, you're not allowed to fail a course or even to do poorly in one. That doesn't mean you'll necessarily be dismissed. Fail a course or part of a course, and you'll likely find yourself facing remediation. As the CNUCOM handbook makes clear, though, fail to complete your remediation plan, or fail two classes in a term, and you are subject to outright dismissal. Your instructors have primary responsibility for evaluating your performance in their individual classes. It is the Student Progress Committee (SPC) that monitors your holistic progress and makes decisions about remediation and sanctions like dismissal.
- Professional Misconduct: The handbook doesn't just talk about academic progress. Your conduct can be just as important—if not more so than—the quality of your coursework. A failed class means remediation. It only takes one breach of patient confidentiality, though, to find yourself facing dismissal. “Misconduct” is a broad category, though, and you should know you're responsible for adhering to several college policies, all listed in the Handbook. These include the Honor Code, which concerns academic misconduct; a student code of conduct governing your non-academic behaviors; Title IX sexual misconduct guidelines; ethical and professional expectations; and all local, state, and federal laws.
Professional misconduct concerns can be complicated in terms of jurisdiction. In some cases, misconduct is treated as a part of the medical school curriculum. If you're accused of mistreating a patient, for instance, you'll likely face the SPC. If, on the other hand, you've been arrested for a DUI, you'll probably face the school's Honor Council.
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm has experience helping students with both types of dismissal defenses. We can work with you to craft a strategy, and we'll do everything we can to help you implement that strategy.
Fighting Dismissal
How you defend yourself from dismissal at CNUCOM varies depending on the specific nature of the dismissal.
- Misconduct: Most misconduct cases—academic and non-academic—wind up before the Honor Council. While the Council doesn't publish its proceedings, you should expect a hearing, at which you should have an opportunity to submit evidence and to call witnesses to testify. You should also be allowed to raise questions for anyone testifying against you.
- Academic Concerns: Academic concerns—and this sometimes includes issues of professional misconduct—are in the hands of the SPC. This body does not hold hearings. Again, the school does not publish the SPC's procedures, but at most schools, students have no right to address the SPC. Instead, all decisions are made in closed-door sessions. You can appeal the SPC's decisions, but the grounds for appeal are limited to issues like the discovery of new evidence or clear evidence that the committee violated policy in some way.
You may or may not be allowed to bring an attorney with you to Honor Council hearings. In SPC cases, you're not allowed to attend at all. Keep in mind, though, that a Lento Law Firm attorney isn't just for accompanying you to meetings and proceedings. In fact, that's only a very small part of their job. Their more important responsibilities are to help you develop your defense, to work with you to gather evidence, to draft documents on your behalf, and to make sure that your rights are respected every step of the way.
CNUCOM isn't forthcoming about its judicial procedures, and what it does say doesn't speak to students' due process rights. Any time there's a question about whether your school will treat you fairly or not, you need an attorney on your side to protect your interests.
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. If CNUCOM dismisses you, all of that will have been for nothing. There's virtually no chance you'll find another school willing to accept you. You'll need to find a new career path, and you'll have to start paying back student loans for a degree you'll never get.
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 need an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
Our Student Defense Team is highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and has 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 Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or use our automated online form.
