Individuals who complete the rigors of medical school and who emerge from their post-graduate research and residencies are often asked to pass a battery of tests to demonstrate their knowledge and experience in the particular fields of medicine that they have chosen to pursue. If they are successful they may obtain licenses to practice medicine, which are necessary to find employment in hospitals, clinics and other medical centers throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
Although most readers are probably familiar with medical doctors, or those whose names end with the initials “MD”, doctors who attend osteopathic schools also may obtain professional licenses so that they too can diagnose and treat individuals suffering from medical ailments. These medical professionals end their titles with “DO” designations.
Osteopathic medical professionals are regulated by the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act which outlines rules of conduct that DO doctors must abide by to maintain their licenses. Pursuant to the Act, a DO professional may have their professional license revoked or denied for renewal if they are convicted of a felony charge or certain state charges.
If a DO doctor is accused and convicted of a crime of moral turpitude they may lose their license. They may also lose the right to practice medicine if they are convicted of a state crime that is related to the actual practice of medicine. Wrongful convictions at the state and federal levels can leave individuals struggling to maintain their livelihoods after committing years of their lives to learning to practice medicine.
Individuals who hold DO degrees and related licenses can fight to keep their rights to work by defending themselves against their criminal charges. Not all attorneys work in the area of professional licensure protection and readers who fear that their licenses may be threatened can benefit from finding representatives who know this field of law.
