The Indiana University School of Medicine traces its roots back to 1903 when the first medical school campus was established in Bloomington. Today, the school maintains nine campuses across the state of Indiana, but its principal research and medical centers are located in Indianapolis on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. As part of Indiana University, medical school students are responsible for adhering to the university's Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct, enforced by the Office of Student Conduct as well as other relevant offices across multiple campuses. In addition, the medical school maintains its own set of academic and professional policies as embodied in its Honor Code, and allegations of misconduct are processed by the Ombuds Office.
The study and practice of medicine require a long-term commitment to the highest educational standards, as well as a lifetime commitment to the highest career ethics and professionalism. Poor academic performance may result in remediation, and disciplinary actions taken for misconduct can affect the medical student's opportunities for employment, residency, and income. If you're accused of poor performance or misconduct, having an experienced attorney-advisor may be crucial to ensuring a positive resolution and protecting your reputation long-term.
Policies, Code of Conduct and Honor Code
At Indiana University School of Medicine, students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct and behavior. In addition to abiding by the university's established Code of Conduct, medical students must agree to abide by an Honor Code which the school takes very seriously. Students pledge to hold themselves to the standards of honesty (both in dealings and in research findings), integrity, dignity, and respect. Suspected violations of academic, professional, or ethical policies are dealt with by the Ombuds Office, and if necessary, by the university's Office of Student Conduct.
Misconduct and Action Plans
Indiana University recognizes and addresses four types of misconduct. Academic Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct, Personal Misconduct, and Organizational Misconduct. Each type of misconduct has a specific procedure for administering discipline and/or resolution. If medical students are found to have violated codes of conduct, the school will implement an Action Plan for the student with a goal of remediation and restoration.
Expulsion
Serious acts of misconduct, or failure to abide by the terms of an Action Plan, may result in suspension or expulsion by the governing disciplinary board. Suspension blocks your access to university resources until you are reinstated. Expulsion revokes your admission permanently and can result in lasting negative marks on your record.
Appeals
If a disciplinary proceeding results in action taken against the student, the student has a right to appeal before the decision is finalized. Indiana University policy only allows a 7-day appeal window for personal misconduct cases, and a 10-day window for academic misconduct. If a student faces dismissal, this appeals process may very well save their career.
Attorney-Advisor for Medical Students
Disciplinary action can have wide-reaching implications for medical school students whose professional careers hinge immensely on their reputations. Conversely, medical school authorities have a critical mandate to ensure the safety of their students and patients while maintaining high academic standards. As a result, they are often quick to mete out discipline quickly and sometimes severely to preserve the school's reputation—sometimes to the unfair detriment of the student. If your clean disciplinary record is at risk, retaining experienced advisory representation will provide the needed balance to ensure the school's disciplinary policies are enforced fairly and with due process. Contact the Lento Law Firm at (888) 535-3686 today for more information.
