Having a medical license suspended or revoked can be career-ending. You won’t be able to practice without a license, and some customers may refuse to see you again. However, there is still hope; the state of Michigan has procedures in place for reinstating suspended and revoked medical licenses.
Reasons for suspension or revocation
To better understand how you can reinstate your license, it helps to look at why it was taken away in the first place. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has jurisdiction over professional license suspension and revocation in Michigan.
The most common causes are unprofessional behavior, criminal misconduct, negligence or violating state medical laws and regulations. If a health professional’s license is suspended or revoked, it is usually because they put a patient’s life in jeopardy or exploited their position for personal or financial gain.
Medical license suspension can last for a set amount of time, but revocation is a more permanent penalty if the infraction is severe enough. However, there could still be a way to reinstate either.
Getting your license back
You must participate in and complete the appropriate program depending on the reason for your license suspension or revocation. For example, if your license was suspended due to substance abuse, graduating from a drug treatment program is one step toward reinstating your license.
You may also need to pay any fines and costs you owe, possibly attend remedial education or complete a refresher course and submit to a criminal background check, among others.
If your license suspension has gone over six months, you may file a petition to reinstate it after the suspension period. Regaining your professional license privileges will require you to appear at a hearing and present compelling evidence to prove that doing so is in the public interest.
Keep in mind that not everyone can have their license reinstated. If the board rejects your petition, you may need to wait a year before applying again.
The outcome of a license reinstatement hearing can make or break your career. To improve your chances, you may want to see an attorney.
