One of the foundational steps in building your healthcare career is choosing the right medical school. As one of only two medical schools in Wisconsin and the only public medical school, the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health (UW-Madison) is a highly ranked medical school for both research and primary care at UW Health University Hospital.
If you choose to attend UW-Madison, they demand professional conduct of their medical students like virtually every other medical school. As medical students, you are under the supervision of experienced medical professionals but you are also trusted with patients’ lives and the general public’s well-being. Doing your clinical rotations is a crucial part of earning your license, and it is a hands-on duty that may put you at risk of disciplinary action if a patient, professor, hospital employee, or other party believes that you did not adhere to professional standards.
You should be aware of what UW-Madison’s professionalism policy entails, as your education and professional future are at stake if you are accused of violating these rules. If you face such allegations, you should seek the advice of an experienced student defense attorney.
Are you facing allegations of professional misconduct while a medical student? The LLF National Law Firm can help. Call us at 888-535-3686 or send us a message online.
What Constitutes an Unprofessional Conduct at UW-Madison?
UW-Madison students must adhere to professional behavior and academic conduct standards outlined in each of the student handbooks, as each of them has a global policy that applies to all students. We will focus on their MD handbook.
UW-Madison considers academic misconduct one and the same as unprofessional behavior. As medical students, the university holds you to a higher standard than typical college students when it comes to matters your undergrad professors may have let slide, like habitual lateness. While academic misconduct is more straightforward, professional misconduct is often more subjective and open to misinterpretation depending on the parties involved.
The following are considered unprofessional conduct at UW-Madison:
Unexcused Absences: UW-Madison does not condone unexcused absences. Excused absences are permitted, but on a very limited basis. You are responsible for tracking excused absences to ensure that you are within these limits. If you need extensive time away from school due to extenuating circumstances, you need to contact the Dean as soon as possible.
General Academic Misconduct: UW-Madison sees academic misconduct as hand-in-hand with professional misconduct. Academic misconduct under their professional behavior policy includes:
- Plagiarism
- Usage of unauthorized materials or fabricated data
- Forgery
- Intentional impeding of others’ academic work
- Prohibited collaboration
- Cheating on exams
- Stealing exam materials
- Tampering with lab equipment or computer programs
- Submitting work that is not your own
Inappropriate Interpersonal Relationships: Medical students are expected to treat instructors, students, patients, allied professionals, and other school and hospital staff professionally and collegially. Students are not permitted to date patients or otherwise exploit the doctor-patient relationship. Harassment, disrespect, and the use of obscene language with patients, other students, faculty, and staff is also not permitted.
Violating Patients’ Privacy Rights: UW-Madison students are not allowed to discuss their patients in public, or inappropriately address them. Medical records and conversations must be kept confidential, and not made available to anyone who is not directly involved in the patient’s care.
Participating in Classroom and Clinical Activities While Intoxicated: UW-Madison students cannot participate in these activities while under the influence of alcohol or psychoactive substances. The only exception to this rule is if you were prescribed them by a physician, and they do not impair your performance.
Inappropriate Conduct on Social Media: UW-Madison has a comprehensive social media policy that applies to all students and faculty. If you share information through your personal social media accounts, you must be professional, employ strong ethics, and respect privacy laws, as your posts reflect on the school as well as your professional future. If you post depictions of intoxication, drug use, sexually explicit behavior, or discriminatory language, you may be subject to discipline.
Remediation Procedures
UW-Madison student conduct is reviewed by the Student Promotion and Academic Review Committee (SPARC). SPARC is responsible for student discipline after the Associate Dean for Students communicates allegations of professional or academic misconduct in person or in writing.
SPARC may impose sanctions if it finds that you violated its professional behavior code. Sanctions include reprimands, being made to repeat work, failing grades, suspension from school, expulsion, and denial of your MD degree. After their meeting, they will prepare written findings of fact and make a decision. If this decision is adverse, you have the right to request a reconsideration meeting.
SPARC Reconsideration Meetings
However, SPARC will only reconsider a disciplinary decision if you have new and/or additional facts to present that occurred during the academic time in question. You must request reconsideration in writing within 30 days of SPARC’s written decision and include your reasons for your request and a summary of the new information you want to present.
The Associate Dean for Students will forward your reconsideration request. SPARC will vote to hear or deny it. At your reconsideration meeting, you may be accompanied by one person whose primary role is to support you, but not speak on your behalf.
Appealing to the Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee (EPCC)
If a SPARC reconsideration is adverse, you must meet with the Associate Dean for Medical Education to review the policies and procedures for appealing to the EPCC. If you decide to appeal to the EPCC after this meeting, you must submit your appeal request in writing within 30 days of SPARC’s written decision on the reconsideration. Your request must have the specific grounds for appeal outlined in Section 11F of the MD student handbook.
The EPCC may reject your appeal and affirm SPARC’s decision, reverse SPARC’s decision, or remand the matter for further consideration by SPARC under EPCC’s instructions.
Medical school is a grueling but rewarding endeavor. Accusations of professional misconduct can be highly subjective, and the LLF National Law Firm is here to advocate for you at every step of the disciplinary and appeals processes. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online intake form to tell us about your situation.