What happens when you don't honor a contract?

[Psych O Matic]

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I was wondering what happens if you walk out on a residency contract, MD or DO? Can they revoke your license? Can they prevent you from going to another program? Like for example you sign a DO TRI or residency and then you take an offer from an MD program. Can you successfully take the other position? I know it's pretty heinous.

 

[billypilgrim37]

You are dragged out in to the road and shot six times in the back of the head.

 

[ShyRem]

I believe to have a contract and then enter the match or take another offer is a match violation. It could cause you to lose BOTH positions and be barred from an approved residency position for a while. They might (MIGHT) allow you could keep one of them, but the programs won't be happy - it shows a significant lapse of ethics. If you stay with the first program, they will know you tried to backstab them. If you stay with the second, they will know you aren't reliable or trustworthy.

Every PD I know would be filing match violation paperwork if they were the first contracted program. Granted, my N is rather small, but none would view the proposed scenario very well at all.

Bad juju anyway you look at it, frankly.

 

[heyjack70]

It's totally lame to do. It sounds like you matched DO (or prematched MD?), but now found an MD scramble spot you would prefer, or something like that? I think DO and MD residencies are overseen by a different bodies, so if you left the DO program you wouldn't be in conflict with the MD program technically (whereas leaving an MD for another MD would be breaking ACGME rules and you would have big repercussions like not getting either residency). BUT (big but) both programs would find out what you did and this leads to two major problems from my perspective. One, medicine is a small world and your reputation will follow you around. Two, if you are scrambling you are in a weak position and the program may not honor the offer if they find out you are already matched, or they may rescind the contract citing non-professional behavior if they find out what happened after everything is signed.

I think your best bet is to stick with where you landed.

 

[Psych O Matic]

Its for a hypothetical entirely outside-the-match situation possibility. I don't like it either but its to secure a spot for now just in case.

 

[Sneezing]

They'll take your degree away and demote you to Noctor or break your knee caps.

If you just matched, go to the NRMP website and realize it is binding. If you break the contract before actually working at the program, they will essentially ban you from every participating in the NRMP ever again. Most of your answers can be found at the NRMP website.

If you are already a resident in training and you are wanting to leave that is a whole different scenario.