Medical school is tough. You had to know that coming in. At some point, someone must have told you just how hard classes are, how demanding instructors can be, and how tricky it can be to balance the demands of clinic hours. And someone should have mentioned the high expectations the South Carolina School of Medicine has for your personal and professional behavior.
It's not easy meeting all these demands and expectations, though, even if you were prepared for them ahead of time. Plenty of med students run into trouble before they finish the program, and many wind up dismissed. How can you make sure you're not one of them?
Any time you have an issue in medical school, but especially if someone has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you, you must seek help. Schools are powerful, and you can't fight yours by yourself.
The Lento Law Firm understands what you're going through. What's more, we have the background and experience to protect you from mistreatment and to make sure that you get every reasonable chance to earn your MD. We're also just a phone call away at 888-535-3686, or you can contact us online.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Dismissal from medical school really only happens for two reasons: either you're struggling to keep up academically, or you've been accused of some form of misconduct.
- Academic Deficiencies: The academic side of the medical school equation is relatively straightforward. If you make it through your program, you're going to hold the lives of patients in your hands. Simply put, you have to know everything there is to know about the human body and the illnesses and conditions it can fall prey to. Likewise, you must be trained to put your classroom knowledge to practical application. At the SC School of Medicine, academic issues are under the purview of the Student Promotions Committee. Generally speaking, this body doesn't dismiss students just because they're struggling. Instead, should you fail an exam or a course, you can expect to be assigned a remediation program. However, the SPC's patience is not endless. Should you fail to complete remediation or consistently fail courses, you can also be dismissed.
- Misconduct: Misconduct at the SC School of Medicine is a more complicated topic. The bottom line is that if you're entering the medical field, you need to be ethical, professional, and trustworthy, and your school wants to make sure you are. In practice, though, that means you are subject to several different disciplinary codes. Like all students at the university, you're expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct. That code covers your general campus behavior—things like drug usage, trespassing, and physical assault. You must also adhere to the Honor Code when it comes to academic integrity. You're subject to Title IX and university restrictions on harassment. The medical school has its own policies on ethics and professionalism (see the Honor Code). And even your personal life is fair game. Any conviction, for example, even for something small like drinking and driving, can be grounds for dismissal
All allegations of misconduct are handled by the medical school's Honor Review Board. Like the SPC, this body has the power to recommend sanctions up to and including dismissal.
Neither the SPC nor the Honor Review Board have the authority to dismiss you themselves. Rather they make recommendations to the Dean. It is the Dean's responsibility to decide whether or not to implement those recommendations.
Fighting Dismissal
You're a student and subject to school policy. There's no way around that. However, your school can't simply dismiss you without affording you due process. You always have the right to defend yourself. How you go about doing that, though, can differ considerably depending on the specific grounds for dismissal.
- Academic Dismissals: In most cases, academic dismissals are based on facts. That is, either you passed a course or you didn't. You can always appeal a grade if you feel an instructor has treated you unfairly, but SPC decisions aren't normally subject to debate. There is no investigation and no hearing. Instead, the committee reviews your record and makes its decisions based on the facts at its disposal. However, SPC decisions are only recommendations. You can expect the Dean to invite you to meet and discuss a dismissal recommendation, and it is sometimes possible to persuade this official to give you another chance.
- Misconduct Dismissals: Misconduct dismissals, on the other hand, are based on allegations, and those allegations must be proven before the medical school can dismiss you. Any time it receives a complaint, the Honor Review Board conducts a thorough investigation into the matter. If it decides that the complaint is credible and that dismissal might be warranted, it will then convene a hearing at which you may present evidence and call witnesses. The Board must find a “preponderance of the evidence” in order to recommend dismissal. That's not quite the same as being found guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Still, it means board members must be more than fifty percent convinced that you committed a violation. Finally, as with academic dismissals, you also have the opportunity to speak with the Dean personally about your situation should the Board vote to dismiss you.
You have the right, under SC School of Medicine policy, to bring an advisor with you to Honor Review Board hearings, and that advisor can be an attorney. School policy does not say whether or not you can bring your advisor with you to meetings with the Dean.
Attending meetings and proceedings is only a small part of what Lento Law Firm attorneys do, though. They work with you to come up with an effective defense strategy. They help you gather and organize evidence. They can come up with questions for witnesses, draft documents, and coach you in making your arguments. Most important of all, they can observe the case and make sure the school respects your rights. In all situations, you need a Lento Law Firm at your side to look out for your best interests.
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.
