As a patient, you probably assume that your doctor has a valid medical license. However, if a doctor allows his or her medical credentials to lapse, it is practicing medicine without a license, which is a form of medical malpractice. Cases that are more serious occur when the “doctor” has no medical training at all and has criminal intent to sexually assault the victim.
In either case, the victim has options if their doctor does not have a valid license. It varies by state, but there are severe criminal penalties, which can include up to five years of prison time. On the civil side, the victim can sue the offender for medical malpractice if any harm occurs as a result. The lack of a medical license creates a presumption of negligent medical care. If the offender knowingly treated patients without a license, it is enough to justify punitive damages in some states.
It is not out of line to ask your treating physician if their medical credentials are current. If you are not comfortable with asking, a call to the state medical licensing board will give you the answer as well. If you do in fact suffer harm from a medical mistake, call our office at 504-522-7885 to speak with a medical malpractice lawyer. Feel free to visit our web page for more information about medical malpractice.
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