Veterinarian Representation
Licensed Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technicians
Frances Cullen, PC helps to protect your license, your livelihood, your career, and your reputation if you are investigated or accused of wrongdoing by the Georgia Board of Veterinary Practice.
Under O.C.G.A § 43-50-41, the Georgia Board of Veterinary Practice, has the authority to refuse to grant a license or sanction a licensee for a wide range of acts of unprofessional conduct, including but not limited to:
- Unprofessional Conduct
- Abuse of Alcohol and/or Prescription Drugs
- Use of Illegal Narcotics/Substances
- Incompetence and/or Gross Negligence
- Arrest or Conviction of a Crime
- Aiding and abetting unlicensed practice
- Obtaining a license as a veterinarian or RVT by fraud, misrepresentation or mistake
When a complaint has been received by the Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine, it is reviewed, analyzed and then processed. Some complaints against veterinarians or registered veterinary technicians are closed because they do not involve grounds for disciplinary action (e.g. personality conflicts).
The Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine (“the Board”) generally does not address fee and/or billing disputes, issues related to general business policies and practices, and personality conflicts, but a complaint about these issues can prompt an investigation by the Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine, and focus attention on you or your practice, and sometimes begin an inquiry into other related matters.
All cases are opened upon the filing of a complaint. Complaints can be filed by any member of the general public: a pet owner, an employee or former employee. If the complaint involves a serious violation (for example, gross negligence or drug abuse), the case may immediately assigned to an investigator employed by the Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine.
If you are contacted during the investigative process, we highly advise you not to attend any “conference,” ”meeting” or “interview” without experienced and qualified legal representation. While a licensee might be willing to discuss the details of the complaint and wish to provide “their side of the story”, this meeting is not an opportunity to present your version of the facts and, without legal counsel as your witness to the interview, your statements can be interpreted differently than you intended and later used against you in a Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine action.
Any attorney can represent a licensed professional, but you should protect your license and career by selecting an attorney who is highly experienced in Georgia professional license defense. Don’t risk your license and your livelihood, and settle for any lawyer when you can obtain an attorney experienced in Veterinary issues.
Representative Cases
In a case where the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) learned that a Veterinarian was ordering narcotics for her own use and intervened, Frances Cullen, PC successfully represented the Veterinarian to retain her license and to avoid criminal charged and negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) to enable her to continue to prescribe controlled substances.
In another case, Frances Cullen, PC represented a Veterinarian Assistant who was accused of a crime by her former employer to maintain an unblemished license.
Contact Frances Cullen, PC
Contact Frances Cullen as soon as possible if you are a veterinarian or other healthcare provider and you are facing a potential investigation or action by The Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine or if you suspect you may be facing a criminal charge, or you have been subject to investigation or arrest.
Frances Cullen is a former Assistant Attorney General who represented various state licensing boards and in bringing disciplinary action against them. She is therefore knowledgeable about the disciplinary process and will offer you a strong defense in any investigation or with potential action brought by The Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine.
Don’t risk your license and your livelihood, and settle for any lawyer when you can call Frances Cullen, PC to retain an attorney experienced in both criminal defense and the issues unique to licensed professionals.
Proviso: Due to the professional stature of my clients and the sensitive nature of the issues that are the subject of these matters, client names are not provided for these cases.
