“Professionalism” seems like a harmless term, unless you are training to work in an industry in which professionalism is non-negotiable. Then, you know that the term is often used not to laud a medical provider’s integrity, but to question their very fitness to occupy this high-stakes field where unprofessional conduct could be deadly.
No reasonable person could take issue with leadership at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM) demanding professionalism of its students. To do anything otherwise would be derelict. Reasonable people do, however, take issue with the enforcement of subjective (and sometimes weaponized) expectations of professionalism in a way that causes real harm to those students.
If you become the target of one or more allegations of unprofessional conduct, you must acknowledge that those accusations could be the thin veneer upon an ulterior agenda. Just as concerning, the allegation might stem from an accuser’s biased perception of your conduct—in either case, you stand to suffer significant harm if the allegation leads to severe sanctions against you.
Our team has extensive, actionable experience counseling students accused of unprofessional conduct. Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online as soon as possible about how we can help you.
Unprofessionalism Allegations: Possibly More Than They First Appear
Those who see the world through the lens of honesty and fairness might assume that an allegation that a student acted unprofessionally is what it appears to be. They might think that the accuser has truly observed what they claim to have observed—whether that’s a student’s chronic tardiness, disrespectful interaction with a faculty member, or another behavior that could be viewed as unprofessional.
Those with experience representing students accused of this sort of misconduct, including our Student Defense Team, know better. We know that the vague category of offense known as “unprofessional conduct” can hide ulterior motives, which may include:
- Retaliating against a DO student who filed a complaint against a peer, faculty member, or other party, who responds by claiming that the complaining student has acted unprofessionally
- Reacting harshly to a student who has proven willing to buck the prevailing ideologies or practices that are considered mainstream (i.e., acceptable) within their DO program
- The manifestation of fraught interpersonal dynamics between a student and a faculty member
The dynamics within four-year DO programs are complex, and they’re not always friendly. Even motives that might seem outlandish to most fair-minded adults—like jealousy—could contribute to allegations of unprofessionalism against a student.
If allegations of unprofessional conduct seem hard to believe or out of the blue, consider that there may be more behind those allegations than first meets the eye.
Even When Allegations of Unprofessionalism Are Earnest, They Can Be Skewed by Bias
Let’s assume that anyone who has accused you of unprofessional conduct is not motivated by ill intentions. Even if the complainant is entirely confident that they are acting honestly, we know that:
- A lack of context can create an unfair perception of unprofessionalism: A student who arrives late to clinicals three days in a row might, at first, appear to lack basic respect for others’ time. However, would that perception change if someone learned that the student was caring for an ailing relative while still attending clinicals? Accusers do not always seek adequate context before accusing a student of unprofessionalism.
- Everyone has biases: Whether or not we are aware of it, everyone has biases. Such bias can contribute to overly harsh allegations against DO students, including those studying at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Any allegation of unprofessionalism is, at its core, an opinion: When someone deems another person’s behavior unprofessional, they are ultimately stating their opinion. We must remember this when deciding whether to discipline a student for alleged unprofessionalism.
Yes, there are cases in which a student’s conduct can be objectively unprofessional. However, the vast majority of cases are anything but objective, and in such cases, students should not be severely disciplined.
What DMU-COM Policies Say About Professional (and Unprofessional) Conduct
The DMU-COM Student Handbook contains a section titled “Professional Expectations.” This section makes several demands of students, including that they:
- Abide by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Code of Ethics
- Adhere to the Osteopathic Oath, which commands them to prioritize patient safety and confidentiality, among other mandates contained within the Oath
- Exhibit reliability and personal accountability throughout their time training at DMU-COM
- Constantly strive for self-improvement
- Foster positive professional relationships with fellow students and faculty
- Contribute to the improvement of the DMU-COM program
If a student is deemed to fall short of these or other professional expectations, any faculty member who observes the behavior is required to speak with that student. The policy notes that some courses “may also include professional grading criteria,” meaning students could face direct academic consequences if accused of unprofessional conduct.
Many schools believe that by posting these sorts of professionalism guidelines, they have justification to sanction students accused of not living up to them. However, a discerning eye can see that these guidelines are far from sufficient grounds to take immensely damaging action against any DO student.
How You Can Protect Yourself from an Unprofessionalism Allegation at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Unprofessionalism allegations are not just harsh critiques. These accusations can be a catalyst that leads to suspension, dismissal, and other formal penalties that cause tangible harm to a student’s reputation, professional prospects, and quality of life.
Protect yourself by engaging a team wholly dedicated to helping students. Our Student Defense Team guides students through formal disciplinary proceedings and fights for a fair resolution every step of the way.
When we need to go through universities’ general counsel to secure fair resolutions for the students we advocate for, we don’t hesitate to do so. As much as any other benefit we provide to those we represent, this willingness to seek outside-the-box solutions may be our most valuable.
Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online as soon as possible to discuss any allegations you face and how we can help you in the face of such claims.