A driving under influence (DUI) conviction can potentially impact every aspect of your life, including your career. If you are a doctor that is facing a DUI charge in Pennsylvania, it helps to find out what this means for your career. 

A DUI conviction can ruin your reputation in the community. It could also lead to the revocation of your medical practice license. This means that you might have to give up on a career that you have worked so hard to build. 

Here’s what you need to know:

Notifying the PA state board of your charges is essential

Besides the court dates that you must never forget, it is also important that you observe certain timelines with regard to the Bureau of Occupational Affairs as well as the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine.

 You have 30 days from the date of your charge to notify these two bodies of the charges against you. The same timeframe applies if you are convicted or placed on an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program. 

Failing to disclose a DUI conviction or ARD placement could land you in trouble

Being placed on ARD does not automatically imply that you will lose your practice license. However, a placement or DUI conviction could lead to your summon before the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs where your fitness to practice medicine may be discussed. Do keep in mind that failure to disclose your DUI conviction or ARD placement within 30 days could lead to the revocation of your practice license. 

Sometimes, the Medical Board will conduct an investigation into your DUI case to determine whether you should retain your practice license or not. It is important that you cooperate and demonstrate responsibility while under investigation.  

The idea of losing your medical practice license can be unsettling. Find out how you can safeguard your medical license while dealing with a DUI or any other criminal matter.