You worry about your grades—as well you should. The All Saints University College of Medicine doesn’t just give degrees away. Courses and clerkships are tough, and instructors can be demanding. Your grades will have an enormous impact when Match Day comes around.
Low grades won’t get you kicked out of the ASU COM program, though. Once a medical school admits you, it will generally do everything it can to help you make it through. You might have to complete a remediation program. You might even get held behind a year while your cohort moves forward. Only in extraordinary circumstances will failure lead to dismissal. On the other hand, one lapse in your professionalism, and you could be looking for a new career path.
If you’ve been accused of some sort of ethical violation or an error in judgment, you cannot afford to take the situation lightly. You must respond, and you must respond forcefully. The LLF National Law Firm can help you do that. Our Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights, and we know what to expect in every situation. We’ve worked with hundreds of students over the years, and we’re up-to-date on ASU COM processes and procedures.
You cannot wait to see what happens, though. You can be certain that the college is already preparing its case against you. You need to be preparing your defense. Call 888-535-3686 to find out what we can do for you, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.
Defining Professionalism?
Patients want to know their doctors are competent. They also want to know their doctors are “professional.” No one wants to sit in a waiting room wondering if their doctor will maintain patient confidentiality or whether they’ll offer risky treatments. We expect physicians to have the highest standards of ethics and professionalism. These expectations begin in medical school.
At a minimum, you must
- Maintain patient confidentiality. This extends to keeping records safe in digital environments.
- Treat all patients with respect.
- Follow the law in all situations.
- Conduct your personal life in ways that reflect well on your profession.
- Practice honesty and fairness.
You can be sure that any disciplinary misconduct will have serious consequences. It’s expected that you’ll follow basic rules against things like trespassing and physical violence. You’ll be held accountable for any type of harassment. In addition, though, you need to cultivate a pleasant bedside manner. And your personal life is not immune to scrutiny. Obviously, drinking on the job is grounds for dismissal. So too is a DUI, even if it has nothing to do with your studies or your work. Doctors must be above reproach.
Here’s the thing, though: no one’s perfect, not even doctors. And you’re not a doctor yet. You’re just a student, and students are bound to make mistakes. It’s almost a requirement. The trick is making sure a mistake doesn’t cost you your future. The LLF National Law Firm is always on your side. We want to make sure that you have every chance to earn your degree and go on to a successful career. Even if ASU COM has turned against you, you can be sure we’re still on your side, ready to fight to ensure you get the best possible resolution to your case.
Defending Yourself
ASU COM doesn’t publish its disciplinary procedures. That is some cause for concern. It suggests that the college wants students off-balance when they’re defending themselves. The college should have procedures in place, though, and you should pressure officials to treat you fairly.
- As a starting point, you should be treated as “not responsible” until proven “responsible” (innocent until proven guilty).
- The college cannot investigate you in secret. If you’ve been charged with an offense, you are entitled to notice of those charges, including an explanation of the complaint and a complete list of your due process rights.
- Because you are innocent until proven guilty, the college needs evidence to find you responsible for an offense. That means it must conduct some type of investigation. As part of this investigation, you have the right to give your version of events and to submit any evidence you may have. In addition, investigators must allow you to review any evidence they uncover.
- You are further entitled to defend yourself at a formal hearing. Typically, such hearings take place before the student promotions committee. However, it could be that you’re subject to an Honor Council hearing. Of course, if you’re found responsible by the Council, you can be certain the promotions committee will take up your case. They have ultimate authority over sanctions, including dismissal.
- Whoever is hearing your case is required to base their decisions on the “preponderance of the evidence” legal standard. According to this standard, you are responsible for an offense only if it seems “more likely than not” that you committed that offense.
- Finally, you are entitled to appeal a hearing outcome if you were denied due process in any way. Typically, this means a procedural error occurred in your case, some new piece of evidence has come to light, or you feel the college has issued an unfair sanction.
If you’re found responsible for violating ethical or professional standards, the minimum penalty is usually suspension. The more likely penalty is dismissal. You’re not going to find another school to accept you with a violation on your record. That means finding an entirely new career.
Don’t risk an outcome like this by trying to take on the college of medicine alone. Most attorneys struggle with medical student defense cases. Such cases involve very specific procedures, and any mistakes can doom your chances of success. The LLF National Law Firm is experienced when it comes to dealing with medical schools. We’ve worked on every conceivable type of allegation. No matter what your particular situation, we’re on your side, and we’ll make sure you’re treated fairly every step of the way.
How Can We Help?
The LLF National Law Firm knows what’s at stake in a way other firms just don’t. The attorneys who make up our Medical Student Defense Team have dedicated their lives to ensuring med schools treat students fairly, and they care about your future. No one else has the knowledge of educational justice they do. No one else can show you how to use the system to your advantage.
If you’re being forced to fight for your educational future, don’t try to handle the situation yourself, and don’t trust your case to a local attorney. Find out more about what the LLF National Law Firm can do by calling 888-535-3686, or take time right now to fill out our online questionnaire.