Making pharmaceutical errors can have a significant detrimental impact on a pharmacy owner or pharmacist. The Illinois Board of Pharmacy and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can take harsh action, classifying a pharmaceutical error that results in serious injury or death as malpractice. In addition to the civil legal ramifications brought forth by the alleged victim and/or their family, a pharmacist and the facility that employs them can also lose their licenses.
Incorrect Medication to the Patient
If a patient is given the wrong medication, it can cause serious or even fatal side effects. Unfortunately, these mistakes do occur, especially…
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On January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act (NSA) went into effect. This federal law gives doctors and other licensed health care professionals, medical facilities, hospitals, and insurers significant and often complex regulations that must be adhered to in order to avoid serious sanctions that could include hefty fines and loss of medical licenses.
What Does the NSA Cover?
Lawmakers passed the NSA as a way to protect patients from unexpected medical charges and force providers to be more transparent when it comes to what they are charging. National statistics show that at least 20 percent of patients have received…
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In January 2020, the recreational use of marijuana became legal in the state of Illinois. Under the law, anyone over the age of 21 is allowed to cumulatively possess 30 grams of cannabis flower, five grams of concentrate, and cannabis-infused products containing up to 500 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
But medical professionals are often held to a different standard when it comes to marijuana, even if it is legal. There may not be criminal consequences for using cannabis products, but you could be putting your medical license in jeopardy under certain circumstances.
Using Marijuana Products…
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Our professional license defense law firm has written extensively about the serious consequences physicians face if they are accused of medical insurance fraud, including loss of medical license even criminal charges. However, dentists can also be accused with insurance fraud and face the same type of consequences. If you have been accused of dental insurance fraud, contact an Illinois professional license defense attorney right away.
Dental Insurance Fraud
Dental fraud is any intentional misrepresentation or deception of treatment needed in order to obtain unauthorized benefits. According to the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, more than $12 billion is lost…
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Our law firm has written a number of blog posts regarding the consequences that can occur with a physician’s medical license should they find themselves facing criminal charges. This is why any type of criminal accusation – even if it is a first offense – should trigger a phone call to a skilled Illinois medical license defense attorney since there is little doubt that the criminal charges will lead to some kind of action by the Illinois Medical Board.
Self-Reporting
Although your first instinct may be to try to keep the news of your arrest as quiet as possible, Illinois…
Continue Reading Crimes of Moral Turpitude and Your Illinois Medical License

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which was established in 1973, is the federal agency that is responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations related to narcotics and controlled substances. Pharmacies and other businesses that administer, dispense, or supply controlled substances are required to register with the DEA.
Periodically – and at random – the DEA will conduct an inspection of a pharmacy in order to ensure the pharmacy is compliant and following required regulations under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). These inspections – referred to as audits – typically take place every three years or so. However, there…
Continue Reading Preparing for a DEA Pharmacy Audit

In 1986, Congress passed the Title IV of Public Law 99-660, the Health Care Quality Improvement Act. Included in the law was the establishment of the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), which serves as a federal repository of health care providers in the U.S. The law requires reporting of any hospital, licensure, or professional society actions against doctors, dentists, and other healthcare professionals. It is important for any healthcare professional to be aware of the NPDB and what may be required of them.
What Type of Information Is Reported to the NPDB?
Under the law, the following information is…
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Last year, Hulu produced the limited series, “Dopesick.” The show revealed how the opioid epidemic that has gripped the U.S. started and how it has affected people. One of the characters in the show, Dr. Samuel Finnix, is a doctor in a small town who is persuaded by an OxyContin salesperson to prescribe the drug to his patients. Not only do many of his patients become addicted to the drug, but the doctor also develops an addiction. Sadly – although the character is a fictional one – he is based on many true-life stories that have found themselves in…
Continue Reading Defending Your Illinois Medical License Against Allegations of Drug Addiction

It takes strong dedication to be a hospital nurse. The majority work long shifts, with hours that go into the double digits, dealing with lack of sleep and heavy workloads, all while trying to provide patients with the best care possible. The hospital work culture can – and often does – leads to errors that can ultimately put a nurse’s license at risk.
Hospital Work Culture
Several years ago, the Vickie Milazzo Institute in Houston conducted a survey of nurses throughout the country. The results found that most of them were overworked and stressed, as well as feeling underutilized and…
Continue Reading Do Hospital Work Environments Create a High Risk for Nursing Errors?