The Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, like all other medical schools in the US, highlights the importance of professionalism as a major part of its medical school curriculum. Students are expected to follow the school’s Professionalism Honor Oath, and unprofessional conduct can result in sanctions and notations on the student’s medical school record.

There can be a problem when it comes to allegations of unprofessional conduct. As with many other medical schools, the Floyd College of Medicine’s professionalism goals are aspirational – meaning they list the kinds of conduct medical students are expected to demonstrate. What they don’t do very clearly is explain the kinds of conduct that are considered unprofessional. The risk is that one student may be unfairly disciplined for conduct that many people would not consider to be unprofessional, while another student may not be disciplined for similar conduct. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is here to help you if you are facing allegations of unprofessional conduct at the Floyd College of Medicine. Call us at  888.535.3686 or fill out our online contact form, and we will set up a confidential consultation so you can tell us about the allegations made against you, and we can explain how we can help.

The Meaning of Professionalism at the Floyd College of Medicine

There are six Core Competencies that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has identified as important for practicing physicians. One of those Core Competencies is “Professionalism and Self-Awareness.” The Floyd College of Medicine has integrated the six Core Competencies across its curriculum, and highlights professionalism and self-awareness “because all medical professionals are expected to treat all people with respect, compassion, and dignity.”

In addition to the Professionalism Honor Oath that Floyd College of Medicine students are expected to follow, there are four sets of qualities that provide more detail about what the medical school expects of them. These are:

  • Honesty and Confidentiality. This includes:
    • Maintaining the “highest standards of honesty”
    • Conducting any research in an unbiased and truthful manner
    • Never misrepresenting or falsifying information
    • Respecting patient confidentiality
    • Being truthful with “college faculty, staff, and other affiliates”
  • Responsibility. Examples include:
    • Recognizing the student’s own limitations and asking for help when necessary
    • Acting professionally (in “demeanor, use of language, and appearance”) in front of patients, in “health care settings,” and in other medical student roles
    • Completing tasks and schoolwork on time
    • Not using alcohol or drugs in a way that could interfere with clinical or educational work
    • Not using the student’s “professional position” to enter into “romantic or sexual relationships” with patients or their family members
  • Integrity. This can mean:
    • Taking responsibility for what the student says and does
    • Accepting and incorporating feedback “in a non-resistant and non-defensive manner”
    • Taking responsibility for “failure or errors”
    • Never using the student’s “professional position for personal gain”
  • Respect. Some of the qualities under this category are:
    • Respecting the dignity of others
    • Creating a “positive atmosphere for teaching and learning”
    • Recognizing the “core obligations” of privacy and confidentiality
    • Judging colleagues fairly and resolving conflicts in a way that “respects the dignity of every person involved”
    • Not tolerating “unlawful discrimination, violence, or sexual assault”

Most of these qualities of professionalism are aspirational – the set goals for the student to look to when it comes to their own conduct. Only a few are clear prohibitions – the drug/alcohol and sexual relationship prohibitions, for example.

While it makes sense to set goals that medical students are expected to achieve when it comes to professional behavior, it can be a problem when a student is accused of failing to meet one of these aspirational goals. That’s because it is often possible for two people to disagree about what an aspirational goal means, and whether a student has met (or failed to meet) it.

If you are facing potential sanctions because of allegedly unprofessional conduct at the Floyd College of Medicine, the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is here to help you make your defense. We regularly do this for medical students across the country who are in similar situations, and we know what it takes to mount a strong and effective response to these kinds of allegations.

Reporting Unprofessional Conduct at the Floyd College of Medicine

The Floyd College of Medicine uses what it calls “Incident Cards” to report “issues or concerns about professionalism.” Incident Cards can be submitted by any Washington State University faculty, staff, or students. They are collected by the medical college’s Assessment Unit, and all information on every Incident Card submitted for a student will be available on the Student Dashboard for that student.

Incident Cards can be submitted for relatively minor matters, such as being late for things like required learning sessions, assignments, or meetings with faculty or staff, or for “disrespectful or unprofessional behavior.” But when “a trend is noted” – which means 2 or more Incident Cards for a student – the student may be referred to the Student Learning Center “for support.”

In situations where the Incident Card alleges issues with “disrespectful behavior or personal conduct,” it will be reviewed by the Associate Dean for Assessment and Evaluation and may be referred to the medical school’s Professionalism Group for “further review and investigation.”  This can also happen in cases where more than one Incident Card shows “patterns of behavior.”

Major professionalism concerns – such as dishonesty, acting disrespectfully towards faculty or staff, endangering patients, or biased behavior – will also be reviewed in detail and may be referred to the medical school’s Student Evaluation Performance and Awards Committee (SEPAC) for possible sanctions or further referral to the Professionalism Excellence Advisory Committee (PEAC).

While the PEAC can make recommendations, it is SEPAC that will issue any final sanctions. Depending on the sanction, it may be possible to appeal the result to the Dean of the medical school.

The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is here to help you if you are facing an investigation and possible sanctions because of an Incident Card that alleges you acted in an unprofessional manner, or because of an alleged pattern of unprofessional conduct.

The LLF National Law Firm Can Help Resolve Professionalism Issues

It can be very stressful to learn that an Incident Card has been submitted against you, alleging that you committed some form of unprofessional conduct. If the matter is referred to the Student Learning Center, SEPAC, or PEAC, things can get even more stressful, because this is what can end with you facing sanctions.

You need a strong defense. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is here to give you one, based on the particular facts of your case.  We regularly go to bat for medical students all across the country who face accusations of unprofessional conduct. We know what it takes to craft a clear and effective defense, and we can work with you to gather the information needed to do so.

Our attorneys stay up to date on the laws, regulations, rules, and procedures that apply in all types of medical school misconduct situations – including ones involving allegations of unprofessional conduct. We use our knowledge and experience to help you, so that you can present the strongest defense possible, no matter who or what committee at the Floyd College of Medicine is reviewing the Incident Card filed against you.

Don’t wait if you have learned that you are the subject of someone’s Incident Card. Call the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team at 888.535.3686, or submit our online contact form. Let us schedule a confidential consultation so we can learn more about your case, and so you can learn how we are ready to defend you and protect your future.

WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

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