Indianapolis Pharmacist License Attorney
A pharmacist license is the foundation of a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. Obtaining a license requires years of education and training plus demonstration of skills and a dedication to the profession. If there is a claim filed against you as a pharmacist, your entire career can be in jeopardy. An Indianapolis pharmacist license attorney can provide the representation you need and help you fight to protect your license.
At Keffer Hirschauer LLP, you will find a skilled Indiana licensure defense lawyer who has the experience required to handle licensing matters that most attorneys don’t. We represent pharmacists against both serious claims and frivolous ones and can help you defend your claim and move on with your practice and life.
How an Indianapolis Pharmacist License Attorney Protects Professionals
If you are facing a claim of misconduct, the process is likely very unfamiliar to you. You may be facing investigations, hearings, meetings, and hostile opposing parties, all of which can be overwhelming. An Indianapolis pharmacist license attorney from Keffer Hirschauer LLP has navigated the process before and knows exactly what to expect and, therefore, can prepare you for every step along the way.
Your Indiana professional license lawyer must understand how the Indiana Board of Pharmacy works and develop a strategy that will give you the best chance for success. Some pharmacists choose to represent themselves against a complaint, which often leads to unnecessary stress, uncertainty, and even embarrassment for you and your place of work. Let the attorneys at Keffer Hirschauer LLP take some of the burden off your plate and develop a strategy for success.
Understanding the Indiana Board of Pharmacy
The Indiana Board of Pharmacy is a state authority that facilitates the licensing of pharmacists in Indiana. The board sets the requirements for obtaining a pharmacist license in the state and also sets the standards for the profession by which all pharmacists must abide. The board also has several other responsibilities, including creating and promoting safety programs, coordinating pharmaceutical recall notices, and creating safety publications for consumers.
The board is comprised of seven members, who are appointed by the governor. Each member serves for four years. Six of the seven seats must be filled by Indiana pharmacists in good standing. The seventh seat is filled by a member of the general public who has never been associated with the pharmaceutical industry. The makeup of the board is intended to provide balance and fair treatment.
The Indiana Board of Pharmacy is an independent authority, but it sits under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA or PLA), which is the state agency that oversees licensure by multiple professional licensing boards. The Professional Licensing Agency also coordinates complaints about the various professions within its purview. The PLA, in conjunction with the board, is responsible for hearing complaints that have been referred to it and imposing sanctions when appropriate.
How Misconduct Claims against Pharmacists Work
A pharmacist misconduct claims process exists to ensure that pharmacists who are not upholding their duty of care are held accountable. The system allows consumers to report misconduct when they see it or when they believe they have been harmed as the result of a pharmacist’s actions. There are several types of misconduct that a pharmacist can be reported for, including:
Dispensing the wrong medication
- Dispensing too much or too little of a medication
- Failing to provide instructions for medication dosage
- Giving incorrect directions for medications
- Failing to run a check for medication conflicts
- Failure to consider patient allergies
While these are the most common reasons pharmacists may find themselves on the receiving end of a complaint, it is not an exhaustive list. Pharmacists can also be reported for things like drinking on the job, working under drowsy conditions, or professional incompetence. In addition, it is not uncommon for unhappy patients to file frivolous complaints against pharmacists when they are simply unhappy with customer service.
Consumers may file a complaint against a pharmacist through one of two avenues: through the Professional Licensing Agency or directly with the attorney general. In deciding whether the complaint has merit, the attorney general must decide if the pharmacist has failed to conduct their practice in accordance with the standards established by the board pursuant to Indiana Code § 25-1-9-4.
If the attorney general does file a petition, the PLA will set up a public hearing during which the pharmacist will have the opportunity to defend themselves with the help of an Indianapolis pharmacist license attorney. However, it’s important to remember that the attorney general may believe the severity of the violations warrant a summary suspension. If so, a pharmacist may be required to cease all pharmacy practice immediately pending the results of the upcoming hearing, where final judgements can be made and sanctions imposed.
Sanctions in Professional Licensing Disciplinary Actions
Indiana Code § 25-1-11-12 sets out sanctions for professional licensing violations. These penalties may be imposed if the board finds that a pharmacist’s conduct merits disciplinary action. The sanctions provided under the law are intended to cover both minor infractions as well as major breaches of duty. Some sanctions are relatively easy to recover from, while others can permanently take away your ability to practice as a licensed pharmacist.
The board may impose one or more of the following sanctions:
- Permanently revoke a license
- Suspend a license
- Censure a pharmacist
- Send a letter of reprimand
- Assess a civil penalty
- Order restitution for the person who suffered damages
The board also has the discretion to place a pharmacist on probation and require them to meet certain requirements. Common requirements under probation include regular reports to the board, limitations on the scope of the pharmacist’s practice, or additional professional education. If you are facing sanctions in a disciplinary action, there’s a lot at stake. Don’t take your chances by representing yourself; instead, hire an experienced Indianapolis pharmacist license attorney.
An Indianapolis Pharmacist License Attorney Can Defend Threats to Your Pharmacist License
If the Indiana Attorney General decides that a complaint against you has merit, that decision can pose a real threat to your career. License revocation or even suspension can threaten your business and your livelihood. While licenses occasionally get reinstated, it is far from guaranteed. Your best chance lies with hiring a skilled Indianapolis pharmacist license attorney to defend against the complaint.
The first step in Indiana pharmacist license defense is contacting the attorney general’s office. With the help of an Indiana pharmacist license defense attorney, you may be able to reach a settlement with the office. An attorney can help negotiate a settlement before the matter ever reaches the Indiana Board of Pharmacy. In these cases, the matter can be resolved without ever going through the steps of a hearing with the board.
If you do not settle with the attorney general, you then have an opportunity to reach a settlement with the board. A settlement with the board may involve a short temporary suspension of your license or placement on probation. If you are unable to reach a settlement agreement, the matter will proceed to a hearing in front of the entire board, during which they will hear the facts of the case and determine whether you did, in fact, commit violations of professional standards.
Knowing whether to settle with the attorney general or the board or whether to proceed with a hearing can be a difficult call to make. That’s where the experience of an Indianapolis pharmacist license attorney can help. An experienced attorney has seen matters in front of the board before and can advise you so you can make an informed decision that best protects your career and future.
The Indiana professional license lawyers at Keffer Hirschauer LLP will be there to help you with your case every step of the way, including:
- Carefully reviewing the complaint
- Conducting an independent investigation of the allegations made
- Drafting a detailed response to the complaint
- Reviewing relevant documentation from the attorney general and the PLA
- Representing you in front of the board
If the board does find that you’ve committed a violation, your Indiana professional license lawyer can also draft an appeal and argue it in front of the board.
Some pharmacists believe that they can represent themselves and that they will prevail in a hearing because they’ve done nothing wrong. Unfortunately, this is the exception, not the rule when a case advances to the board. Your best chance of success is with the help of an Indiana professional license lawyer who knows exactly what type of evidence is needed and how to present it.
The attorneys at Keffer Hirschauer LLP have been through the process for pharmacist license defense in Indiana before, and we’ve learned what strategies work and which ones don’t. Our Indianapolis pharmacist license attorneys will keep you informed throughout the entire process and develop a strategy that gives you the best chance of successfully defending the claim.
Trust Your Local Indianapolis Pharmacist License Attorney at Keffer Hirschauer LLP
Pharmacists provide an important service to the community. They deserve the best pharmacist license defense in Indiana from skilled attorneys who understand the system. The attorneys at Keffer Hirschauer LLP have the knowledge and experience necessary to guide you through the complaint process and successfully defend your professional license. Whether you are facing your first action for a frivolous complaint, or you’ve been before the board before, we can help. Get in touch with our Indianapolis pharmacist license attorneys by calling (317) 857-1060 or by completing our online contact form.