Dental Board Defense Attorneys in Los Angeles, California
Like all other professionals, dentists and dental associates are expected to maintain a standard of care. When dental professionals in Los Angeles provide care to patients that is thought to be unacceptable, the unsatisfied patients may file a notice with the California Dental Board. Although the vast majority of complaints filed are by patients who are unsatisfied with the care they are provided, they do not always warrant further action. However, there are some accusations that may warrant further punishment against dental professionals. If you are facing the possibility of disciplinary actions, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance as soon as possible. A skilled dental board defense attorney in Los Angeles can help you protect your legal rights.
Our team at Leiva Law Firm has decades of experience fighting on behalf of Los Angeles dental professionals to ensure they are not wrongfully accused of conduct by unsatisfied patients. Our team is well-versed in dental laws in the state of California, which allows us to provide effective and competent defense to ensure our clients are in the best position possible to move forward and protect their legal rights. If you are being accused of wrongdoings or are subjected to a dental board investigation, contact our Los Angeles law firm to get the representation necessary to protect your legal rights.
Possible Disciplinary Actions You Can Face
In California, the Dental Board can issue a number of different disciplinary actions against a dental professional. The punishment provided is often influenced by the severity of the accusation. Some of the possible forms of disciplinary actions you can face following an investigation include:
- Citation and fines
- Public reprimand
- Interim suspension of your license
- A stay of revocation with probation
- Suspension of a license
- Revocation of your license
Although the degree of these punishments varies immensely, they can all have a negative impact on your personal and professional life. Patients are less likely to turn to dental professionals who have disciplinary actions on their licenses. Furthermore, dental professionals may have problems finding jobs in the future. Should you be in the position where you could face any reprimand due to a complaint filed against you, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance as soon as possible. Working with a knowledgeable and skilled dental board defense attorney at Leiva Law Firm in Los Angeles is your best bet at protecting your legal rights and best interests moving forward. Our team is available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to get started with your case.
The California Dental Board License Investigation
In California, dental assistants, hygienists, and dentists all receive licenses from the California Dental Board. If a complaint is filed against a licensed professional, the state of California will conduct an administrative investigation. This process usually involves having the licensee provide a written statement to them, but can result in an in-person interview between the licensed professional and the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
Before the dental board moves to suspend, discipline, or revoke a license, they will conduct an investigation to determine if the claims made against them have merit. Although dental professionals are not required to hire attorneys, they can benefit immensely by working with a dental board defense attorney in Los Angeles. Meeting with an attorney that is familiar with handling the complex legal claims and issues surrounding dental board cases will ensure you are in the best position possible to protect your legal rights and professional wellbeing.
Our Los Angeles dental board defense attorneys at Leiva Law Firm have decades of experience defending our clients against issues that arise during the investigation process, during negotiations with investigators, and during a trial when charges are brought against dental professionals. If you are the subject of a dental board license investigation, contact our law firm as soon as possible to get the representation you deserve.
Handling Accusations from the California Dental Board
After an investigation, the California Dental Board may find that disciple action, reproval, revocation, or a suspension of a dental license may be appropriate. In these cases, an accusation is issued by the dental board against the targeted professional. The accusation will include all of the factual allegations forming the dental professional. It will also explain why adverse license action was appropriate. Furthermore, it will include sections under the California Dental Practice Act that you have allegedly violated.
If you are issued an accusation, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance as soon as possible. Working with a skilled and aggressive defense attorney from Leiva Law Firm in Los Angeles is your best bet for protecting your legal rights and your ability to maintain a blemish-free dental license in the state of California.
Common Allegations Against Dental Professionals In California
Our team at Leiva Law Firm has decades of experience protecting the legal rights and helping to advance the best interests of dentists who are subjected to investigations and prosecutions. Our team uses forensic experts and an array of other professionals to build strong defense cases on behalf of our clients. In cases where there are allegations against dental professionals, the dental board may prosecute depending on the severity of the accusation. Some of the claims brought against dental professionals that result in disciplinary actions or denial of a license include:
- The unauthorized disclosure of patient information.
- Sexual misconduct by a dental professional.
- The abuse of drugs or alcohol.
- Dental professionals using illegal narcotics or other illegal substances.
- Gross negligence.
- Falsifying records.
- The conviction of a crime that is related to your license.
- False, misleading, or deceptive advertisement.
- Fraud/theft or fiscal dishonesty.
- Misrepresenting the status of a license.
- Practicing without a license.
When the Board of Dental Examiners receives a complaint, they review it, analyze it, and process it. In some cases, complaints are closed immediately due to the fact that they may fall outside of the jurisdiction of the dental board. Others are closed because they do not involve grounds that warrant disciplinary actions. Other cases are closed due to being found unsubstantiated.
In some cases, the Board of Dental Examiners can find the allegations to be valid. At this point, they will decide a further course of action against you. The options often employed after receiving a complaint regarding a dental professional include:
- Closing the complaint due to it being without merit.
- Closing the complaint even if it is found to have merit.
- Having the Dental Board handle the matter “in-house” by issuing a fine, citation, private reprimand, or another non-criminal punishment.
- Referring the matter to the Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.
When matters are referred to the Attorney General’s office, they often seek to deny applicants their licenses. The Attorney General may also suspend or revoke your license. They also have the option to impose terms and conditions while issuing a probationary license.
Working with a dental board defense attorney will ensure you are in the best position possible to fight any complaints filed against you. By providing a compelling and powerful defense, our team works to have your case closed or your punishment reduced. Our dental board defense attorneys understand the prosecution case. This puts our team in a better position to develop both a defense and an offense to ensure our clients are protected. If you are being accused of any of the above-listed actions, or other actions that resulted in an investigation, contact Leiva Law Firm as soon as possible to see how we can help you.
How Leiva Law Firm Can Help You
Having any marks of misconduct on your dental license can have a damaging impact on your career. For this reason, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance as soon as possible should you be the subject of a complaint or a dental board investigation. The assistance of a skilled Los Angeles defense attorney is imperative to help you protect your personal and professional life.
At Leiva Law Firm, our attorneys have extensive experience and understanding of dental license defense in Los Angeles. This provides us with the ability to aggressively represent our clients to ensure they are not reprimanded unjustifiably. Our team employs effective strategies while fighting on behalf of dental professionals in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California to ensure they do not have their careers jeopardized by bad actors. If you are the subject of a dental board investigation or at risk of having your dental license revoked or face other actions due to complaints filed against you, contact our law firm at (818) 703-1777. Our team is available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the circumstances surrounding the case against you and to develop an adequate and effective defense. Don’t wait, call us as soon as possible to get started.