Mississippi is home to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, which are both committed to training medical students to provide their state residents with compassionate care. With such high hopes for its students, sometimes, that weight can feel overwhelming. In certain instances, you might find that you've breached your school's policies or procedures. If you or someone you love is in such a situation, an experienced attorney advisor will be able to seek a resolution on your behalf.
Academic and Professionalism Policies for Mississippi Medical Students
Every medical school implements a code of conduct, which they expect their students to follow. These codes of conduct will incorporate rules on everything from what's considered a passing grade in your class, how shelf exams will be administered, and the behaviors they expect to see while you are in class, on campus, or representing the school during your rotations.
At William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the code of conduct outlines the professional responsibility and academic integrity all students must abide by. For instance, medical students are expected to uphold academic integrity. If they are caught cheating, plagiarizing, or helping another student to cheat, on any assignment, exam, or clinical internship, they will be referred to the honor board for review. The honor board will suggest such sanctions as a warning, probation, suspension, or dismissal. Working with an attorney advisor from the moment you are notified of these allegations will ensure you receive the best possible outcome for your case.
Remediation at Mississippi Medical Schools
Medicine is a field that requires great ethical and academic standards. The faculty are expected to test their students on not just their medical knowledge but their bedside manner, how they treat underserved populations, and how to protect their compassion without compromising their patients' treatments.
At the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, the Promotions Executive Committee will review a student's performance and decide whether they should be promoted, dismissed, or given a chance to remediate the work. And, if you were failed because you were caught cheating in some form, an attorney advisor would be able to help you pursue remediation before suspension or expulsion are even on the table.
Dismissal from a Mississippi Medical Program
It's hard to imagine getting expelled from a medical school, but the truth is there are several lapses in judgment that could lead a medical school to dismiss you from their program, everything from performing poorly on an exam to allegedly violating the code of professional conduct while on rotations. The specific guidelines will vary depending on the medical school you attend.
If you find yourself facing an expulsion hearing, an attorney-advisor will work diligently to help you steer clear of expulsion. Being insufficiently defended might mean more than expulsion:
- Your reputation may be harmed: Medical schools are particularly careful about who they admit. If you've been expelled from your medical school program, other schools may remove you from their applicant pools immediately, forcing you to re-enroll in a less promising program or ending your medical career before it really began.
- You may experience substantial financial harm: Medical school is an expensive graduate school to attend. Being dismissed before graduation can mean large student loans, with no real professional career to help you pay them back.
- You may be barred from carrying academic credits to your new school: The credits you've collected at your current medical school may not be applicable in another program, leading you to lose those credits and start all over again.
- You may experience significant personal problems: Being expelled from medical school can be painful. You've fought so hard to get into this program without a looming graduation date, how are you supposed to plan for your future? You will have to take a look at other possible career paths and mourn the loss of your dream career.
Appeals
It is incredibly important to ensure your medical school upholds your due process rights during disciplinary or dismissal hearings. The actual due process right will vary from school to school, but you may have the right to:
- Hear the allegations against you
- Face the person accusing you
- Be heard by your school's disciplinary body
- Request a grade change
- And appeal an adverse ruling by the school's disciplinary body
For students facing dismissal or suspension from medical school, an appeal is your last chance to preserve your original dream for your future. Your attorney-advisor will review the accusations against you, as well as any relevant evidence and witness testimony, and craft an appeal on your behalf that is aimed at lessening any negative consequences suspension or dismissal may cause you. You deserve the best chance at achieving your medical school dreams.
Additionally, if your appeal is unsuccessful, your attorney advisor will exhaust alternative avenues to guarantee you the best possible outcome for your case. For instance, they can reach out to the Office of General Counsel at your medical school and attempt to negotiate on your behalf. Generally, these types of discussions have a much higher success rate than filing a lawsuit against the school.
Mississippi Medical Student Defense Advisor
Getting into medical school is a serious fete for any student and one you should definitely be proud of. You never expect to find yourself on the end of a dismissal action or petitioning for remediation. If you are accused of violating academic conduct guidelines or the professional standards set by your Mississippi medical school, it can have long-lasting effects on your career beyond the ability to graduate.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento has devoted his professional career to assisting students who find themselves overwhelmed by challenges that might arise on their journey to becoming a doctor. He and his team will passionately defend your reputation and ambitions in medicine. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your case or schedule a time online.
