If you've been in medical school for more than a minute, you know just how tough it is. It's not just that the academic expectations are high, though that's certainly true. Learning to think through the ethics of your every move, developing a bedside manner, and making sure your personal behavior is always above reproach—these can be just as difficult as passing exams.
With so much pressure, the question isn't whether or not problems will come up during the course of your studies. The question is how you will respond to problems when they do. A mistake can be a learning opportunity, or it can be a sign that maybe you don't really belong in this profession.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm want to make sure you make the best out of your time in medical school and that no mistake ever holds you back from achieving your goals.
How can we help? We're defense attorneys, seasoned litigators with years of experience. We focus primarily, though, on defending students. We know education law. We also know how the Meharry College of Medicine operates. If you've got a problem, if someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal, you owe it to yourself to find out just what we can do. To find out more, call 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
The Meharry Student Handbook is 201 pages long. That's a lot of information to digest, even for a medical student. We want to focus, though, on just what can get you dismissed at Meharry. It turns out that comes down to two basic issues.
- Academic Deficiencies: Academically, you knew what to expect coming in. Courses at Meharry are rigorous and instructors demanding. That's as it should be: at some point, you'll literally have the lives of patients in your hands. You need to be prepared. The college pays close attention to your course and clinical work every step of the way. The Student Academic And Support Services Committee (SAASSC), for example, reviews your work after every single unit and every single course. Ultimately, however, it is the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee (SEPC) that decides whether or not you should continue to the next year of study. Any academic deficiencies are grounds for remediation. In most cases, if you fail a course, you'll be required to retake that course. Should you fail two in one year, you'll likely need to repeat the year. Further struggles, though, almost always result in outright dismissal from the program.
- Misconduct: You may not have expected when you signed up for medical school that you'd be held to such high standards of behavior. “Doctor,” though, is the position in the public trust, and Meharry wants to ensure that you are a person of the highest personal, ethical, and professional standards. Any violation of the academic misconduct policy can be grounds for dismissal. Likewise, you're subject to a general Code of Conduct that includes prohibitions against things like theft, trespassing, and assault. Like all college and university students, you must abide by federal Title IX regulations concerning sexual discrimination and harassment. Finally, though, keep in mind that your personal behavior, even when it happens off-campus, is subject to evaluation. A criminal conviction for something as small as a DUI can be enough to get you dismissed. Misconduct issues are generally in the hands of the SOM Disciplinary Committee. Like the SEPC, this committee has the power to issue sanctions up to and including dismissal.
Fighting Dismissal
If you're facing dismissal, you always have the right to defend yourself. How you go about doing that, though, may differ depending on the specific grounds for dismissal.
- SEPC Hearings: If you're facing dismissal, the SEPC will invite you to attend a hearing into the matter. In addition to answering questions from the committee, you are allowed to make your case by offering evidence and providing an “expression of support”—either in writing or in person from up to three individuals. Note that legal counsel is barred from attending these proceedings.
- Student Disciplinary Committee Hearings: The Student Disciplinary Committee conducts a preliminary investigation into all allegations of misconduct. Only once it has established that a complaint is both credible and actionable does it then proceed to a hearing phase. Again, the hearing provides you with an opportunity to present evidence, call witnesses to testify, and raise questions for any witnesses testifying against you. Here, however, you do have the right to bring an attorney with you, though your attorney is barred from participating directly in the proceedings.
Defending yourself from the threat of dismissal is never easy. Rules and procedures are complicated and can be difficult to navigate. Further, you can't always be sure which governing body will have jurisdiction over your case. For example, issues of “professionalism” can be treated as either academic deficiencies or instances of misconduct. Further, sexual misconduct is subject to an entirely other system of justice dictated by Title IX guidelines.
In short, you never want to handle a dismissal defense all on your own. Even if they can't attend your hearing, an attorney from the Lento Law Firm can help you build your case, work with you to find and organize evidence, draft questions for witnesses, and even give you practice in presenting your arguments. At a minimum, they can monitor your case and ensure you're treated fairly. A Lento Law Firm gives you your very best chance for a positive resolution to your situation.
Fighting for Your Future
If you're facing dismissal, you need to know 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 an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. Our Student Defense Team is 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 Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
