The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (UC) provides its medical students with a diverse atmosphere, prominent instructors, and cutting-edge research opportunities. Their goal is to foster an academic environment that offers chances for patient care and clinical experience in all years of school rather than just the third and fourth years. To ensure they are training future physicians to uphold their medical mission and values, UC College of Medicine requires all students to uphold certain academic and professional standards. When students are accused of violating these standards, the university will work to resolve the issue, which could result in being dismissed from the program.
These proceedings can be incredibly overwhelming, and, unfortunately, many students decide to either improvise their defense or prepare a defense themselves. When this happens, they tend to be less successful than if they had hired an attorney-advisor to help them. Medical student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team know first-hand how nuanced these proceedings can be and will ensure you are fully prepared to defend yourself, guaranteeing you the best possible outcome. Call today.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
All medical schools provide their students with a student handbook at the beginning of each. The handbook effectively puts students on notice for what kind of behavior is acceptable, what behavior is prohibited, and the steps the school will take to resolve any violations.
The most common reasons medical students at UC College of Medicine are dismissed from the program include:
- Discussing patient care issues in public areas.
- Violating HIPAA.
- Cheating on an academic assignment.
- Plagiarizing an academic assignment.
- Bullying other students, faculty, or staff.
- Possessing or consuming alcohol while on campus or in the hospital.
- Destroying property, whether university property, hospital property, or the property of another.
- Stealing university, hospital, or another person's property.
- Using or distributing prescription drugs or controlled substances.
- Disturbing the peace.
- Harassing or discriminating against others.
- Violating local, state, or federal law.
- Hazing others.
- Misusing identification documents.
- Misusing safety equipment.
- Misusing university information technology.
- Violating patient confidentiality.
- Practicing medicine without supervision or technical skill.
- Physically abusing others.
- Failing to maintain a satisfactory GPA.
- Failing more than one class or USMLE Step.
Medical schools have a financial need to make sure their reputation remains intact. As such, they will not let any student's behavior or academic progress put that reputation at risk. So, when a student violates the conduct and progression standards, the school will look for ways to part ties with them, whether consciously or not. This can lead, in some cases, to the school failing to provide accused students with the appropriate due process rights, such as the right to a fair and appropriate hearing prior to dismissal. Having an attorney-advisor in your corner will ensure the medical school is held accountable for any error they make. Moreover, attorney-advisors will contact the Office of General Counsel to negotiate the matter further, hopefully getting you access to a resolution you would not have been able to obtain without them.
Adjudication Process at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
There are two types of adjudication processes at UC College of Medicine – academic progression issues and conduct violations. For academic progression issues, the student's record will be reviewed by the Performance and Advancement Committee (PAC). PAC will determine if a remediation plan is appropriate or, if the student has previously failed the remediation plan or is unable, semester after semester, to show that they are able to grasp the information being taught if dismissal is necessary instead.
For the conduct violations, the complaint will be heard by the Honor Council. Every student, teacher, and staff member is asked to report any suspicions of academic or professional misconduct. Once the complaint is made, the Honor Council will review it and conduct a preliminary investigation to see if there is any support for the complaint. If they determine that there is some support for it, they will initiate a hearing.
At the hearing, both the complainant and the accused student will have a chance to present evidence and witness testimony, as well as cross-examine one another's. After they've both been heard fully, the Honor Council will determine, based on the evidence presented, if the accused student is responsible for the conduct violation and, if so, what sanctions to impose. Sanctions can include anything from psychiatric counseling, restitution, or a reprimand to suspension or dismissal.
Appeals Process
Once the Honor Council has made its decision, it will notify the student and provide steps to appeal their decision. Appeals must be made to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions within 15 days. And appeals can only be made on one of the following grounds:
- There is new evidence available now that was not reasonably available before, and there is clear and convincing evidence that it will affect the decision.
- The Honor Council made a substantial procedural error that fundamentally changed the outcome of the matter.
- The sanctions imposed do not match the violation.
The Judiciary Appeal Board will review the appeal and decide whether to remand the matter for further review, amend the sanction imposed, or uphold the Honor Council's finding altogether.
How a Skilled Medical Student Defense Attorney-Advisor Can Help
Getting into medical school requires a lot of hard work. From the moment you take decide to become a doctor, the pressure is on. Navigating disciplinary or academic progression hearings adds a level of stress that's just unnecessary when you are also trying to juggle classes and relationships. Medical student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team know this and will work tirelessly to ensure you have a strategic defense that protects your future career and opportunities. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
