Most doctors dreamed of helping people before they ever dreamed of life in medical school. Their only goal was to make their patients feel better. In high school, you might have learned how hard medical school can be and the challenges you might face, but it was not until your first day that you realized what was expected of you. And while getting into medical school in Indiana is something you should be proud of, what you do there is what will make you a great doctor. For some students, that pressure is overwhelming. If you find yourself surrendering to the pressure or unable to keep up with your academics, an attorney advisor will be able to help guide you on how to proceed.
Academic and Professionalism Policies for Indiana Medical Students
Medical schools expect their students to abide by a specific code of conduct. The specifics may change from year to year, but, generally, it always asks its students to refrain from cheating, plagiarism, harassment, and sexual misconduct, while also outlining the school's expectations for advancement and professional responsibility. Indiana University's School of Medicine takes these policies a step further, requiring their students to also be ethical in their professional obligations, including how they present themselves in front of patients, and to contribute to creating a safe and inclusive community on campus and off.
If you are accused of violating these standards in any way, you will be brought in front of the decision board at your medical school. The decision board's job is to determine if you should be dismissed from the program and can be a confusing process to navigate. An attorney advisor will be able to help you present your side of the story in a clear and concise way, lessening any potential negative consequences you might experience.
Remediation at Indiana Medical Schools
Medicine is life and death, and as such, its physicians are held to a higher ethical and academic standard than other professions. No one wants the doctor that failed their surgical rotation to be the one operating on them unless they retook the rotation and passed with flying colors. As such, medical schools aim to test their students consistently, both academically and professionally, to ensure they are up to this standard.
At Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, faculty will review your performance for the year and determine if you are ready to advance to the next year. In general, students are allowed to remediate an assignment, exam, clerkship, and the COMLEX-USA exam at least once and must pass to advance. It is important to be familiar with the remediation process before each year just in case it is updated. In some instances, universities may not offer remediation outright. If this is the case, an attorney-advisor will be able to work with the university on your behalf to ensure they give you every chance to continue that you are entitled to.
Dismissal from an Indiana Medical Program
Facing a dismissal proceeding can feel daunting. Most medical schools will recommend dismissal for anything from cheating and unsatisfactory grades to poor bedside manner. Working with an attorney from the moment you learn of the proceeding will ensure the best possible outcome. An attorney advisor will review the accusations against you and gather evidence and witnesses to speak on your behalf. A sufficient defense is the only way to cope.
Unfortunately, if you are inadequately defended, there are serious long-term consequences beyond simply being dismissed from the program, including:
- Financial hardships – you may have taken out quite a lot in loans to attend medical school. Without the prospect of a physician's salary at the end, you might find it hard to pay them back.
- Starting over – if you are dismissed, other medical schools may close their doors to you, forcing you to attend a lesser-reputable school to continue your studies. And if you can continue, you may find that your current credits are not transferable, pushing you to start all over again.
- Personal hardships – you never know the effect a dismissal will have on your mental health and personal relationships until it happens. The stress it causes could be hard to recover from.
Appeals
If you are facing dismissal from medical school, your school must afford you certain due process rights. These rights include being able to ask for a grade change or to remediate a course or exam, to defend yourself against dismissal, to face the person accusing you, and to appeal the disciplinary board's decision. The board must also notify you of the exact grounds an appeal is prudent on and what steps to take to file the dismissal.
An appeal is your last chance to fight the dismissal or sanctions so that it doesn't mar your transcript or future prospects.
If appealing feels overwhelming, working with an attorney advisor will lessen that anxiety. Further, if your appeal is unsuccessful, an attorney advisor can contact the Office of General Counsel at your medical school to negotiate for an alternative resolution. Usually, these discussions offer a better outcome than a traditional lawsuit against the medical school might.
Indiana Medical Student Defense Advisor
Getting into medical school is hard, but once you get in, you don't expect to ever be facing a dismissal action. This dream you had of becoming a doctor and helping people is suddenly slipping away. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his team have years of experience helping medical students navigate these overwhelming situations. They will be able to review your case and determine the best course of action to lessen the adverse consequences dismissal may cause. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your case or schedule a time online.
