There's really no getting around it: medical school is tough. And we're not just talking about academics. Of course, classes and clinic hours are rigorous; of course, instructors are demanding, but meeting standards of personal behavior can be even tougher. The SIU School of Medicine expects you to treat patients with respect, exercise the highest ethical principles, and communicate effectively with colleagues. You have to avoid offending anyone; you have to conduct your personal life appropriately—heck, there's even a dress code.
Here's the thing: we all make mistakes, even doctors. And you're not a doctor just yet. When you make a mistake, as you inevitably will, how do you keep your medical career on track? And if you're facing a serious charge, one that could lead to dismissal, how do you defend yourself?
You start by contacting the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. Taking on your school is a daunting prospect and one you don't want to do alone. The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm know the law and how to use it to protect you. They also know how SIU's School of Medicine operates and how to use administrative and judicial procedures to their advantage.
If you're in trouble, if someone at your medical school has mentioned dismissal, don't want to find out what might happen. Call 888-535-3686 today, or use our automated online form.
Academic Expectations
Medical school isn't like undergraduate education. There are no unimportant classes at SIU SOM. You're learning to be a doctor, and every subject can potentially mean the difference between life and death for your patients. No surprise, then, that you must pass every course.
The good news is that one F won't tank your chance at an MD. In most cases, the School of Medicine will work with you to come up with a remediation plan to remove any deficiencies. Multiple failed courses, though, or failure to complete remediation are grounds for dismissal.
All decisions regarding your academic progress are in the hands of the school's Student Progress Committee (SPC). This committee meets at the end of each year to consider your entire academic record. It has the power to assign remediation programs and to issue sanctions up to and including dismissal.
Dismissal decisions are entirely in the hands of the SPC, and the committee normally does not invite students to its meetings. However, should the committee decide to dismiss you, you are entitled to request a meeting to consider reinstatement. At this meeting, you may make an opening and closing statement, offer any relevant evidence, and call witnesses to testify on your behalf. You may also rebut any evidence against you, including witness testimony. Further, you may be accompanied by an advisor of your choice. This means someone from the Lento Law Firm can be on hand to help you present your case. They may offer advice throughout the proceedings and even make statements to the committee on your behalf, though they may not examine or cross-examine witnesses.
Finally, should the SPC stand by its original dismissal decision, you can file a written appeal to the Dean. Here again, your Lento Law Firm attorney can play a crucial role. Grounds for appeal are limited to procedural errors, an unfair hearing, or the discovery of new evidence. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team, though, is experienced at developing cogent appeals arguments and drafting effective documents.
Professional Misconduct
Medical students are often surprised to learn that their conduct is actually more important than their academic performance. Course deficiencies can be remediated; there is no help for a med student with no ethics.
The School of Medicine's standards of Professional Conduct include strictures against
- Plagiarism and other forms of misrepresentation
- Cheating
- Providing officials with false information
- Restricting others' access to learning
- Falsifying data
- Falsifying information related to patient care
- Disclosing confidential or privileged information
- Failing to comply with federal or state laws and regulations
- Failure to demonstrate standards of the profession, “including personal and professional honesty”
- Failure to abide by the School of Medicine's Honor Code
Note, too, that you must submit to a criminal background check before you're admitted to the School of Medicine, and a criminal conviction while you're a student, even for something as minor as a DUI, is grounds for dismissal.
The SPC is ultimately responsible for handling issues of professional misconduct as well as academics. However, the procedures in these cases are different. Generally speaking, professional misconduct is a matter of allegation—a charge that must be proven—and the school can't dismiss you without conducting an investigation and fully adjudicating the matter.
Along the way, you have numerous due process rights, such as the right to be considered “Not Responsible” (innocent) until proven otherwise, the right to examine the evidence against you, and the right to advanced notification of all meetings and proceedings. Misconduct hearings are also far more formal. These are “hearings,” not “meetings,” and they are conducted according to strict rules of procedure. Additionally, the burden of proof rests with the school. Again, though, you have the right to appeal the SPC's findings to the Dean.
Finally, note that you can find yourself dismissed from the School of Medicine for other kinds of misconduct. For example, you are subject to SIU's Student Code of Conduct and to federal Title IX guidelines concerning sexual harassment and misconduct. Violations of these policies are handled through university judicial processes but can also result in dismissal. Of course, such violations can also wind up before the School of Medicine's SPC, which can dismiss you even if other administrative authorities choose not to do so.
The Lento Law Firm Can Help
You probably already realize this, but it bears emphasis: in a medical school dismissal case, 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 the Southern Illinois School of Medicine decides to dismiss you, all of that will have been for nothing.
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.
