You have put an incredible amount of hard work into earning your pharmaceutical license. Five years of intensive college curriculum, several more years of on the job experience and of course, the information you had to learn to earn your license all have made you one of the few professionals that thrive in a pharmaceutical career.
The last thing you want is for a mistake to taint your career by having your pharmaceutical license revoked.
If you are a pharmacist who faces a DWI or a DWI-related criminal charge, you should get in touch with a criminal defense attorney. The State of Texas Medical Board does not take a DWI charge against one of its members lightly. You need the legal representation provided by a Texas licensed criminal defense lawyer such as Adam Capetillo.
Does the Texas Medical Board Need to Know about a DWI?
The Texas Medical Board requires doctors and pharmacists to be honest and transparent in reporting negative events that happen in their personal and professional lives. This means that if you have a DWI conviction on your criminal record, you must report the conviction to the Texas Medical Board. Although an experienced criminal defense attorney like Adam Capetillo can help exonerate you after a DWI arrest, you are also obligated to report the arrest to the Texas Medical Board.
An accomplished criminal defense lawyer will present compelling evidence that either leads to a not guilty verdict or the evidence motivates the prosecution team to drop its case against you. Highly rated criminal defense attorney Adam Capetillo can restore your good name and prevent a conviction for a DWI from appearing on your record.
How the Texas Medical Board Handles a DWI Arrest
According to the guidelines written into the Medical Practice Act, medical licensing boards lack the legal authority to penalize a pharmacist or any other healthcare industry professional for a non-felony DWI arrest. In Texas, a first time DWI arrest typically results in the worst-case scenario of a misdemeanor conviction. Although you will not lose your license for a first time DWI offense, you can expect the Texas Medical Board to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances of your arrest. The Medical Practices Act authorizes medical boards to conduct investigations to determine whether there is a link between a DWI arrest and on job performance.
The primary goal of an investigation carried out by the Texas Medical Board is to determine whether one or more of the following factors were part of the DWI arrest:
- Unprofessional conduct
- Endangerment of the life of one or more patients
- Addiction to drugs and/or alcohol
- Impairment of professional judgment
If a DWI results in a felony conviction, the Texas Medical Board will issue a ruling that determines your disciplinary status, as well as the status of your pharmaceutical license.
Possible Evidence to Present in a DWI Arrest Case
When the Texas Medical Board decides to initiate an investigation into a DWI case, it will want documents and other types of evidence that help determine your professional status. By working with a criminal defense attorney who understands the procedures followed by the Texas Medical Board, you will present convincing evidence that might lead to exoneration.
Here are a few examples of the evidence you need to submit:
- A personal account of the incident
- Letters of support from professional colleagues
- Results of a medical examination that proves the absence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Letters of support from members of the community
- Professional awards and community service accolades
- Letter of support from your family
What are Some of the Consequences of a Texas Medical Board Decision?
A DWI felony conviction can lead to the State of Texas handing down criminal penalties that include prison time and hefty legal fines. The Texas Medical Board can add other consequences to a felony DWI conviction that include administrative penalties such as a suspension of your pharmaceutical license. A disciplinary order issued by the Texas Medical Board can contain additional disciplinary stipulations.
- Regularly scheduled blood alcohol tests
- Successful completion of one or more substance abuse classes
- Participation in alcohol education programs like Alcoholics Anonymous
- Physical and psychological evaluations
How the Texas Medical Board rules on your case depends mostly on the results of its internal investigation into the DWI arrest. The board might not use any of the information presented during a criminal trial when it determines your professional future. However, you should remember that an investigation can be prevented by having a convincing criminal defense lawyer present compelling arguments that lead to a not guilty verdict.
Speak with a Texas Licensed Criminal Defense Attorney
As a pharmacist, you understand the high level of professional esteem that the members of your community have for you. Your professional peers in the healthcare industry hold you in the same high professional regard. You cannot allow your professional reputation to sink because of a DWI arrest. Reputable DWI defense lawyer Adam Capetillo not only has the experience to represent you successfully, but he also possesses the type of persuasive communication skills that can get you exonerated of all charges.
Call the Capetillo Law Firm today at (346) 249-5544 to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your DWI arrest and the effect it will have on the Texas Medical Board. You can also reach us by submitting the online Contact Form.
