Medical license odd situation

[hunterthom]

I was fired as a PGY3. My ex wife revealed personal information about me to my program and it made me look like a terrible doctor, and caused a clash with the chair. Never had actual work issues. There’s a termination letter on file. I tried appealing but failed.

I want to get my medical license. My program director is actually very supportive and is willing to explain it in a soft way. When I apply via FCVS I will try to explain it. My understanding is FCVS will ask my program director to submit verification of training and a section to explain it. He’s willing to not attach the termination letter.

Will FCVS/State Medical board accept his explanation or will they ask him for more information? Will the board ask me for a hearing and explanation? I really don’t want them seeing this termination letter. Thanks.

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[dozitgetchahi]

I was fired as a PGY3. My ex wife revealed personal information about me to my program and it made me look like a terrible doctor, and caused a clash with the chair. Never had actual work issues. There’s a termination letter on file. I tried appealing but failed.

I want to get my medical license. My program director is actually very supportive and is willing to explain it in a soft way. When I apply via FCVS I will try to explain it. My understanding is FCVS will ask my program director to submit verification of training and a section to explain it. He’s willing to not attach the termination letter.

Will FCVS/State Medical board accept his explanation or will they ask him for more information? Will the board ask me for a hearing and explanation? I really don’t want them seeing this termination letter. Thanks.

Sounds like a weird scenario. So as with all of these types of situations, it kind of depends on what “information” was divulged - and whether or not the information was true (stuff said by ex spouses can certainly be false).

Drugs/alcohol? The board is going to want to know about that, and it may be hard to get around that if it’s true (ie you may be on the way to the PHP).

Criminality? Do you have a criminal record? Did your ex wife say you’re a pedophile or something?

If your ex-wife lied, then that’s a whole other can of worms. If what was said wasn’t true, than defending yourself will certainly be easier.

You need an attorney, btw.

In general, if you’re fired from residency the board is going to start asking questions about it. Having a lawyer allows you to get out in front of it.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

The answer is very state and situation dependent. In general, once there's any "bump in the road" in your training, of which termination would certainly qualify, the board is going to ask for your entire training file -- every single evaluation and piece of paper in there. Your residency program will likely decline claiming QA protection / privacy, and submit only a summary. The board will complain. Your program will tell them to stuff it. Some state boards will be more aggressive, some less. In general, the most frustrating states are MA, PA, TX, CA, and FL. But you really never know. You should ask your program if they will release the letter.

 

[Iamnew2]

The answer is very state and situation dependent. In general, once there's any "bump in the road" in your training, of which termination would certainly qualify, the board is going to ask for your entire training file -- every single evaluation and piece of paper in there. Your residency program will likely decline claiming QA protection / privacy, and submit only a summary. The board will complain. Your program will tell them to stuff it. Some state boards will be more aggressive, some less. In general, the most frustrating states are MA, PA, TX, CA, and FL. But you really never know. You should ask your program if they will release the letter.

MA is nightmarish even for the most simple things - as is the rest of the state. FL I have found to be very helpful and easy to navigate state license.

 

[Goro]

I was fired as a PGY3. My ex wife revealed personal information about me to my program and it made me look like a terrible doctor, and caused a clash with the chair. Never had actual work issues. There’s a termination letter on file. I tried appealing but failed.

I want to get my medical license. My program director is actually very supportive and is willing to explain it in a soft way. When I apply via FCVS I will try to explain it. My understanding is FCVS will ask my program director to submit verification of training and a section to explain it. He’s willing to not attach the termination letter.

Will FCVS/State Medical board accept his explanation or will they ask him for more information? Will the board ask me for a hearing and explanation? I really don’t want them seeing this termination letter. Thanks.

Can you elaborate on "caused a clash with the chair"?

 

[comp1]

This is really sad and even more so because a lot of states are going to want 3 full years of postgrad training at a minimum. Even for the states that don't, I do think you're going to end up needing a lawyer that tightly specializes in the state you want to work in because there are going to be so many technical questions and you can easily make things much worse by answering questions incorrectly even if you THINK you're answering correctly. This could be in either direction, shading whatever actually happened as better or worse.

 

[hunterthom]

The answer is very state and situation dependent. In general, once there's any "bump in the road" in your training, of which termination would certainly qualify, the board is going to ask for your entire training file -- every single evaluation and piece of paper in there. Your residency program will likely decline claiming QA protection / privacy, and submit only a summary. The board will complain. Your program will tell them to stuff it. Some state boards will be more aggressive, some less. In general, the most frustrating states are MA, PA, TX, CA, and FL. But you really never know. You should ask your program if they will release the letter.

My program director himself is keen on not releasing the letter. The issue is will the board go above him to find the letter.

What if I am able to convince the hospital to turn this letter into a resignation for other reasons? Would that help much?

Also which states are the least nosy?

 

[Iamnew2]

My program director himself is keen on not releasing the letter. The issue is will the board go above him to find the letter.

What if I am able to convince the hospital to turn this letter into a resignation for other reasons? Would that help much?

Also which states are the least nosy?

Resignation prob would be best
I'd say IN, NY, FL, maybe IL are the least challenging. Tx, MA - ugh.

 

[hunterthom]

Resignation prob would be best
I'd say IN, NY, FL, maybe IL are the least challenging. Tx, MA - ugh.

I know it’s hard for you to say, or anyone unless they work on these boards, if I explained my termination vaguely on my FCVS and so does my PD when he’s forwarded the FCVS form, will one of these states prod further and further?

 

[Iamnew2]

I know it’s hard for you to say, or anyone unless they work on these boards, if I explained my termination vaguely on my FCVS and so does my PD when he’s forwarded the FCVS form, will one of these states prod further and further?

I don't like the whole FCVS form - I think unless a state requires it (and no state should) that a person should fill out their own applications for licensing.
With that said however I think that if you resigned for the right reasons (for example, I resigned my Radiology residency and went into PM&R) so I commented on that and there weren't really many questions. If you resigned and don't have something lined up or other residency or endeavor that you went into, it might fuel questions. It also depends on how your program spins it. If they said resident resigned, no academic issues probably the board won't care. So it's all about what happened and how it's spinned.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Resignation prob would be best
I'd say IN, NY, FL, maybe IL are the least challenging. Tx, MA - ugh.

My perception is that many southern states are the easiest to get a license (excluding TX, FL, and possibly AR). I was almost shocked at how few questions were asked to get an Alabama license, and how simple and short the paperwork was.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

My program director himself is keen on not releasing the letter. The issue is will the board go above him to find the letter.

What if I am able to convince the hospital to turn this letter into a resignation for other reasons? Would that help much?

Also which states are the least nosy?

What exactly is in this letter that is so incriminating that it can’t be seen?

As with so many things on SDN, there are huge gaps in this story that don’t make much sense.

 

[hunterthom]

What she revealed is texts between us from my PGY1 year where in my depression I was venting about my work and patients in a very ugly way, made me look terrible, taken out of context. Truth is she didn’t reveal it to my program only but to the hospital board, so my program could not help me. Became an HR feast. My letter makes it look like I’m the devil.

My PD is very supportive so is my GME. It’s a nightmare. I have a spotless record otherwise.

Which states can I apply to for a license in which they won’t do a colonoscopy on me and understand this was between spouses? I am so heartbroken over all of this.

Edit: I’m suing her and will sue the hospital soon, they violated so many of their own policies and my contract to just get rid of me.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

There's no real way to know, other than apply. Everyone will want "more info". Exactly how much more is unclear.

Once you sue the hospital, you should assume that all good will comes to an end. HR/Legal will disallow any communication except through them.

 

[HemeOncHopeful19]

There's no real way to know, other than apply. Everyone will want "more info". Exactly how much more is unclear.

Once you sue the hospital, you should assume that all good will comes to an end. HR/Legal will disallow any communication except through them.

Yes indeed. Sadly your supportive PD will likely disappear if/when you sue the institution they work at. I would discuss this with your lawyer for sure.

 

[RangerBob]

Yes indeed. Sadly your supportive PD will likely disappear if/when you sue the institution they work at. I would discuss this with your lawyer for sure.

Agree with this.

As unjust as things can be sometimes, often the best solution for us when we are wronged is to follow the sage advice of Jesus and “let it go.”

Ok that was Elsa in “Frozen…” But Jesus (and in all fairness I’m sure an few others before him) said it first.

If you legitimately cannot get a job anywhere because of this, then maybe going the nuclear route makes sense to recover all your lost future physician income (only if a lawyer recommends it). But until all is lost, you want to keep GME and your PD fully on your side—they’re probably the only hope you have.

Regarding your ex—unless actually have assets to recover, suing them just prolongs your misery and costs.

Sometimes the costs of justice are not worth it.

 

[hunterthom]

You can imagine Im worried about getting rejected for my license. My program is not trying to release this letter. I’m on and off again if I should work with a lawyer on how to phrase this. I’ve already worked with a lawyer preliminarily on this licensing issue but idk, doesn’t seem like I will make any real headway with the hospital or exwife to change this situation, so I’m thinking I just have to apply for the license.

Does anyone know which states allow you to withdraw your application at any time without consequence?

The hospital is giddy at the opportunity to cancel me essentially.