What Should I Do if I Have Been Kicked Out of My Residency Program?

Successfully completing a medical residency program is a critical step toward becoming a licensed doctor. Unfortunately, medical residency is one of the hardest steps for an aspiring doctor to finish. Residency requires long hours under some of the most stressful conditions an upcoming doctor could face. In some cases, medical residents could face violations during this time.

If you have been kicked out of your residency program, you should ensure that you receive due process. Medical residencies typically end due to violations of one or more core competencies as set forth by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The core competencies set forth by the ACGME include:

• Medical knowledge.
• Practice-based learning and improvement.
• Systems-based practice.
• Patient care.
• Professonalism.
• Interpersonal skills and communication.

Thus, your bedside manner is just as important as your medical knowledge and skills.

A complaint from a patient or a medical professional might trigger a review of your residency. All doctors are human, and some mistakes are expected. Learning from them and not repeating them generally is the key to the successful completion of your medical residency program.

Only very serious or repeated violations of the six core competencies typically result in the termination of a medical residency program. The ACGME requires every medical resident accused of violating core competencies to undergo a review. It is a good idea to retain the services of a lawyer to uphold your rights and keep you informed of the review procedure during this time.

A panel of medical experts should conduct a review to learn the facts behind any complaints made against you. You should have the opportunity to meet with the panel and provide its members with your viewpoint. The panel will also meet with representatives of any complaining parties.

Once both sides have provided their viewpoints on the matter, the panel will recommend a resolution to the chief medical officer at the medical establishment where your residency occurs. Ultimately, the chief medical officer will decide whether to accept or reject the panel’s recommendation.

Your attorney can help ensure you undergo proper due process before any decisions are made regarding whether or not your residency is terminated. Your attorney could identify any wrongful deviations from the process and work to ensure you benefit from a fair hearing before the panel.

You can work with your attorney to provide evidence of your medical knowledge and character that helps show you are a good candidate to continue your residency program. Evidence in your favor might include testimonials from doctors and nurses. Your education and test scores could also help demonstrate your skills and knowledge and give you another chance at completing your medical residency program.

Philadelphia Medical Resident Lawyer at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. Can Help You if You Have Been Kicked Out of Your Residency Program

Our experienced Philadelphia medical resident lawyer at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. can help you get a fair hearing and outcome if you have been wrongfully kicked out of your medical residency program. Call us at 215-569-1999 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, we serve clients in Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Lehigh County, and Montgomery County.