Whether to accept or reject a settlement offer involving the reprimand, probation, suspension or revocation of a professional license is one of the most difficult decisions a licensee faces when he or she becomes the subject of a disciplinary case before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or any regulatory or administrative agency. Read More
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Effects of Discipline of a Healthcare Practitioner’s License
The discipline of a license may be either a reprimand, probation, suspension, or revocation. As a result of a healthcare practitioner’s license being disciplined, a number of far-reaching consequences may occur. Such consequences are not discussed at the settlement conference with prosecutors and prosecutors may not even be aware of the potential for such consequences. Read More
The Disciplinary Process at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Background: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“the Department”) is responsible for administering and enforcing approximately thirty legislative Acts which regulate the practice of over 100 professions and occupations in Illinois. The Department has the authority to issue a license to practice a profession or occupation, and to revoke, suspend, or otherwise discipline Read More
What to Do When Investigated
With complicated regulations governing the practice of various professions and cultural forces that advocate assigning blame, the likelihood of a licensed professional being investigated is great. Here are a few things you can do to feel more in control of the situation. 1. Do not panic. You are not alone. Many of your colleagues have Read More
A Request to Surrender a DEA Registration
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation recently instituted a new policy providing that any settlement offer made by the Department for a case in which a healthcare practitioner has surrendered his or her DEA registration must include some period of suspension of the practitioner’s primary license and his or her Illinois Read More
Controlled Substances Record Keeping for Healthcare Practitioners in Illinois
This article applies only to medical doctors, dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, physicians’ assistants, and advanced practice nurses who order, store, prescribe, administer, dispense, or “waste” controlled substances in Illinois. Although record keeping requirements found in the federal Controlled Substances Act apply to practitioners throughout the United States, there are specific requirements found under the Illinois Controlled Read More
Death in the Chair: A Dentist’s Nightmare
Very few people die during or as the result of a dental procedure, but the unfortunate fact is that patient deaths do occur. Scant information is available about the frequency of death or serious injury as a result of undergoing a dental procedure in the United States. There are no national, mandatory reporting requirements to Read More
Disclaimer: This web site is addressed to those who hold professional licenses issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and by similar licensing agencies in other states. Suggestions herein are, in most circumstances, valid for any type investigation, whether administrative, criminal, or civil. However, it should be noted that in some other states, one who holds a professional license may be required to submit to an investigative interview as a condition of being licensed. Whatever the circumstances, a licensed professional who becomes the subject of an investigation would be wise to immediately retain legal counsel. No content, whole or in part, is to be considered as “legal advice,” and by reading this document, no attorney-client relationship is formed with the Crick Walanka Law Group, Ltd.