“Is There a Doctor on Board?” A 2025 Refresher for Physicians
The scene is familiar. Call light chimes, a flight attendant looks worried, the cabin PA asks for medical help. Some physicians stand up immediately. Others do a quick internal audit in their brain, scope the problem, and guess the tools available, legal risk, and calculate … Read more
“Why Don’t You Take a Leave of Absence? It’s Not Reportable.” Right?
Doctors can often sense when trouble is brewing. They may be scrutinized more than their fair share. Multiple peer review events. Several “cup of coffee conversations” with leadership. Sometimes it’s better to leave sooner rather than later. I’ve heard these recommendations made multiple times: “Why … Read more
The Case Against Holding Too Many Medical Licenses
About one mile from our office sits the historic Julian Price mansion. This is what it looks like today. Nice, right? The prior owner fell onto hard times. The bank foreclosed on the property. And it took more than five years to evict the delinquent … Read more
Help, I Just Want to Leave California
My first job was in California. That was a long time ago. I practiced there for about 3 years. Then I moved. My California medical license terminated. I can’t remember if I sent a note to the Medical Board of California (MBC), or just did … Read more
How to Turn a Minor Board Problem into a Major Board Problem
No one likes to be ignored. If you are talking to someone, you reasonably expect they will listen. If the “listener” is not listening, their next step is to turn up the volume. If a Board of Medicine writes to you seeking an explanation for … Read more
Applying for a New Medical License While Under Investigation
Physicians often migrate from one state to another. Looking for greener pastures. This is particularly the case when your current workplace loses its magic. Sometimes it IS better to leave and get a fresh start. If you head to a different state, you’ll need a … Read more
When Music Bingo During Surgery Turns Deadly: A Cataract Case Gone Wrong
Cataract surgeries are miracles of the modern age. They are generally safe. And effective. Before the advent of intraocular lenses, when cataracts were removed, nothing replaced them. The only solution was to follow with “high-powered, bulky spectacles, which often led to poor visual quality. In … Read more
Galactorrhea and Specialty Board Certification: When Disability Meets High-Stakes Testing
Becoming board certified is a rite of passage. It has become a de-facto must-have document in addition to licensing. For many jobs, you need to be board certified or board eligible. Many hospitals require it to become part of its active medical staff. If you … Read more
Can Third Parties Access Your Patient’s STD Records?
Medical records can be used for offense. They can be used for defense. If a patient sues YOU for medical malpractice, all of their records are fair game (or at least most of their records). A plaintiff cannot use the medical record as both a … Read more
Statute of Limitations vs. Statute of Repose: What’s the Difference?
Most physicians are generally aware that a patient has a fixed amount of time to file a lawsuit. If not filed, then the patient, now a plaintiff, loses that right. There are two “statutes” that set the clock. The first is statute of limitations. There, … Read more
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