The radiation oncology team plays a vital role in getting cancer patients the treatment they need to manage and treat their disease. The team can consist of a radiation oncologist and oncology nurses, along with radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists. A radiation therapist, sometimes called a radiotherapist, is a medical professional with expertise in administering treatments for malignant tumors by using high-energy radiation to kill or manage the growth of cancer cells. A medical dosimetrist ensures that radiation treatment promotes the most lethal radiation dose with the fewest side effects on the patient's healthy organs.
Radiation therapists and dosimetrists work in hospitals, doctors' offices, universities, and outpatient centers, and each must complete clinical training that usually involves an internship at one of these establishments. These clinical hours provide valuable hands-on training.
Both radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists put a lot of time and money into their education and training. By the time you reach your internship, you have invested a lot in your future career. Understanding the disciplinary issues that can arise and block your career path during your internship is important. If someone accuses you of misconduct during your internship and you don't take it seriously, your certification and career may be at risk.
This guide to Radiotherapist/Radiation Therapist and Medical Dosimetrist Internship Issues will explain some of the disciplinary issues you may face on your career journey and steps you can take to protect your career if someone accuses you of misconduct. If you have any questions, please contact the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. They have years of experience helping students like you across the United States understand and resolve misconduct allegations.
Radiation Therapist and Medical Dosimetrist Internship Requirements
Radiation therapists need at least a two-year associate's degree; however, many employers prefer their therapists to have a four-year Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapist students must complete an accredited training program or work full-time for two years, during which they do clinical internships that provide them with valuable hands-on training. After this training, radiation therapists qualify for the national exam from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Radiation therapists must renew this certification annually.
Medical dosimetrists must complete a four-year college degree, preferably in the physical sciences. Afterward, they must apply to an accredited medical dosimetry program. These programs are highly competitive and can take 12 months to 24 months to complete. The program includes both classroom instruction and clinical practice through an internship. Medical dosimetrists must thoroughly understand how cancer affects the body and how to use radiation to treat cancer cells, then calculate the exact dose of radiation to achieve the treatment objective. Because dosage calculations are required, so is knowledge of higher-level math and the ability to visualize body structures using computer-generated models. Certification by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board requires them to pass an exam and meet continuing education requirements.
Because radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists work in various settings and work around various medical and healthcare professionals and patients, they can find themselves in the midst of discipline in several ways.
What Kind of Discipline Can Occupational Therapists Encounter?
There are a few ways radiation therapy students and medical dosimetrists can face accusations of misconduct during their clinical training:
- Employer Discipline: Your clinical training could be in hospitals, doctors' offices, universities, and outpatient centers. You will likely be treated like a regular employee, especially if disciplinary issues arise. Before starting your internship, it's important that you carefully review the employee and/or intern handbook provided by your employer. This book will outline the expected behaviors and the actions that could lead to disciplinary measures or even termination. You'll obviously want to avoid making any of these violations. Doing so could get you dismissed from your training and zap your chances of getting certified. An experienced lawyer at the Lento Law Firm can assist you if you are accused of any misconduct by your employer.
- Certification Organization Discipline: Both the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board have ethics requirements. These requirements lay down the ethical standards for these Allied Health employees to ensure the safety and welfare of patients and that none of their certified professionals are engaging in conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public. If someone accuses you of wrongdoing, you can refer to these documents to see if the charges qualify as a violation of the certifying organization's regulations. If your certifying organization notifies you of a complaint against you, contact the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm as soon as possible to begin building a strong case in your defense.
What Kind of Misconduct Can Result in Discipline?
Various forms of misconduct can result in disciplinary actions from employers and certifying organizations for radiation therapy and medical dosimetry interns. These actions are taken to ensure patient's safety and well-being and maintain the profession's integrity. Here are some examples of misconduct that can lead to disciplinary measures:
- Substance abuse misconduct: Radiation therapy and medical dosimetrist interns must not work with patients while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Such behavior can jeopardize patient safety and lead to harmful consequences.
- Practice-related misconduct: Like certified radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists, students in these fields must adhere to standard procedures and follow the directions of their supervisors. Failure to provide patients with the appropriate standard of care may result in allegations of practice-related misconduct.
- Sexual misconduct: Engaging in romantic or sexual relationships within the workplace or with a patient is strictly prohibited and can lead to accusations of sexual misconduct.
- Fraud: Engaging in fraudulent activities within a professional setting is unacceptable. This includes billing for services not rendered or falsely claiming to have performed services, which can have serious implications for patient welfare, as well as billing and insurance reimbursement.
How Are Misconduct Allegations Resolved?
Misconduct allegations can come from various sources, including employers or certifying organizations. Allegations can trigger an investigation and disciplinary procedures. Different parties have different disciplinary processes; however, those processes are usually similar.
Initially, the governing party—the employer or the organization—reviews the allegation to determine if it involves conduct that could result in disciplinary action. Not all complaints, especially those from disgruntled patients or co-workers, involve behavior that warrants discipline. For instance, complaints about non-emergency situations like long waiting times may not trigger an investigation or disciplinary proceedings.
If the complaint addresses potential misconduct, the next step typically involves investigating its accuracy and gathering additional contextual details about the allegation.
If the complaint is verified, it may progress to a more formal stage. The student is notified of the filed complaint and the alleged misconduct. The student is given an opportunity to respond, usually in written form. A separate investigation of the allegations may be warranted, especially if witnesses or other evidence can contribute to the student's defense. Retaining an experienced attorney can be invaluable in this process. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is well-versed in assisting students facing disciplinary action.
At times, the organization involved may propose a resolution to the student to address the matter. This offer may require the student to agree to certain facts and accept the consequences, which can range from verbal or written reprimands to more severe measures like written censures, mandated courses, or temporary prohibition from practice. An experienced attorney can help you evaluate the best option and decide whether to accept an offer.
The governing body may conduct a formal hearing if the matter remains unresolved, although it is less common in employment discipline situations. Having legal counsel with experience in representing professionals and students in these situations is priceless. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has extensive experience assisting students through disciplinary hearings. They will closely scrutinize the allegations against you and thoroughly question witnesses about the events.
Even if the hearing outcome is not favorable, you may have the option to file an appeal. In these circumstances, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can assist in the appeals process. They will work collaboratively with you to identify significant appeal issues and draft and submit compelling appeal documents catered to your specific case.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help
If you are a radiation therapy or medical dosimetrist student doing clinical training as you work toward your certification, and you find out that someone has filed a complaint against you, fight back immediately. The career you worked so hard for is at stake. Contact the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm to hear how they can help.
You worked hard and invested countless hours and money to get your education and training as a radiation therapist or medical dosimetrist. Your internship is one of the last steps before certification and licensure. Don't let an accusation of misconduct hurt your future plans. Call The Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or contact us online to set up a confidential consultation with our Student Defense Team.
