Dedication and Sacrifice to get into medical school.
Once there, expectations and demands are high. A medical student’s grades, clinical knowledge, and skills are appraised. Constantly. They must adhere to the medical school's standards of conduct.
Medical students have an investment in their education. They have financial challenges and enormous student loans. This investment is at risk when they face sanctions or dismissal.
When a requirement is not met, a school may act. They can place a student on academic probation, suspend, or dismiss them.
All have serious consequences. Medical schools are ultra-competitive. Falling behind has lasting effects. The financial investment may be lost. As will the dream of a medical career.
The Hahn Legal Group APC can help recapture all of that. We have experience with academic progress, code of conduct, and clinical evaluation appeals.
We appreciate and understand the immense pressures of medical school. Most of all, we know what’s at risk. The Hahn Legal Group APC has successfully represented students in appealing sanctions and dismissals. We've helped students fulfill the dream of being a doctor.
Medical School Appeal Process
Medical students may face discipline for both performance and academic misconduct. Poor grades. A failure to meet progress requirements. Clinical failures. They may all result in remediation, suspension, or expulsion.
Academic misconduct covers a wide range of actions. Plagiarism. Cheating. Collaborating when not allowed. Using unauthorized materials in an exam. Code of Conduct violations. These are just a few examples. Suspension or expulsion are the most common penalties.
Either, of course, will derail a medical career.
Luckily, medical schools have an appeal process. A failing grade, poor clinical evaluation, academic probation, or academic misconduct may be appealed. Appeal hearings, however, are granted along narrow lines. Once these options have been exhausted, court remains a possibility.
Improper Conduct and/or Extenuating Circumstances
Medical schools are required to hear appeals. They may be based only on improper conduct and/or extenuating circumstances.
Improper conduct means mistakes were made by the school. Perhaps a paper or exam was incorrectly graded. A faculty member may have erred. The school may not have followed its guidelines. A promotions committee may have acted without all the facts. The school had a conflict of interest.
All are grounds for appeal.
Extenuating circumstances are unpredictable events that impede a student’s academic progress. Medical or psychological concerns. Financial issues. A family crisis or unexpected death.
These can have a severe impact on performance. More often than not, the school is unaware of them. More often than not, the school would have acted differently had they known.
Adverse actions by your medical school should be appealed. Immediately.
Some schools have a short appeal time frame. It is imperative not to fall behind in your medical education.
Every minute spent on suspension, every day of expulsion, puts you behind. The Hahn Law Group APC has the knowledge and experience to help you get back.
The Hahn Legal Group APC represents clients in California medical/dental schools.
