Department of Health | The Health Law Firm Blog

Florida HB 0653 Signed Into Law; Effective 2/1/2012

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Florida Legislature unanimously passed HB 653 which relaxes some of the draconian exclusions enacted under SB 1986, which went into effect on July 1, 2009. SB 1986, which added provisions to Chapter 456, Florida Statutes, among others, prevented numerous healthcare providers from obtaining or renewing licenses based on prior criminal convictions, which could have occurred decades earlier.

HB 653 has been passed unanimously by the Florida Legislature and has been signed by the Governor to be effective July 1, 2012. It has been signed into law as Chapter 2012-64, Florida Laws and amends Section 456.0635(5), Florida Statutes (2012).

Under HB 653, the professional […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:55-04:00May 15, 2018|Board of Nursing, Department of Health, Nurse License|

Nurses: Did You Know You Have Fifth Amendment Rights in a Florida Department of Health Investigation Involving Your License?

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

If you are contacted by a Florida Department of Health investigator, did you know that you cannot be required to make a statement or give any information that can be used against you? If you are being investigated you have a right to refuse to speak with an investigator pursuant to the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the equivalent rights given by the Florida Constitution, Article 1, Section 9. Unfortunately, because the Miranda decision does not apply to administrative proceedings, including licensure investigations, the DOH investigator does not have to inform […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:55-04:00May 15, 2018|Administrative Complaints, Department of Health|

Nurse: Please, Please, Please: Talk to an Attorney Before You Talk to an Investigator

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In Florida, You DO NOT Have to Speak to an Investigator!

Despite mailing out hundreds of thousands of postcards and letters to physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and psychologists throughout Florida, we continue to receive calls from new clients and from potential clients, after they have already spoken to and made critical harmful admissions against their own interests to investigators. In Florida, you do not have any duty to cooperate with any investigator who is investigating you. This extends to Department of Health (DOH) investigators (who are sometimes titled “Medical Quality Assurance Investigators” or “Medical Malpractice Investigators”), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents, police officers, sheriff’s […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:55-04:00May 15, 2018|Administrative Complaints, Board of Nursing, Department of Health, Discipline, Nurse License|

Please, Please, Please Do NOT Talk to the Department of Health (DOH) Investigator

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Whether you are a nurse, physician, pharmacist or dentist, I beseech you: please do not talk to a Department of Health (DOH) investigator until you have talked to a health lawyer who is experienced with DOH investigations and board licensing complaints. Do not answer or respond to even the most basic questions about where you work now, what your address is or if you know patient x, until consulting with counsel.

Admitting to the Simplest Facts May Harm You.

We are routinely consulted by nursing professionals and other healthcare providers for representation after they have discussed […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:54-04:00May 15, 2018|Board of Nursing, Defense, Department of Health, Nurse License|

Advice for Nurses Regarding Department of Health Investigations

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

We see and hear about a lot of incorrect legal advice being given to nurses regarding what they should do if they are being investigated.

The incorrect advice being given even includes mailings they may have received containing a brochure “What Every Nurse Needs to Know” published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. It gives advice in response to the question: “What should you do if you are the subject of a complaint?” It advises the nurse to contact the Board […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-09-27T14:40:14-04:00May 15, 2018|Administrative Complaints, Administrative Hearing, Board of Nursing, CRNA, Defense, Department of Health, Discipline, Insurance, Malpractice|

Appealing Final Orders and Emergency Suspension Orders (ESOs)

by George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M.
Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

George F. Indest III, Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The professional boards for licensed health professionals in Florida, such as the Board of Nursing, are all under the Florida Department of Health (DOH). Each board is responsible for disciplinary actions and other matters regulating the professions under its authority. The investigators and attorneys assigned for Board of Nursing matters all work for or are assigned to the DOH. The Florida DOH is headed up by the Florida Surgeon General. I think of the DOH as the umbrella agency over the professional boards or […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:04-04:00May 15, 2018|Administrative Complaints, Administrative Hearing, Board of Nursing, Defense, Department of Health, Emergency Suspension Order, Nurse License|

Psychologists: Don’t Fall Victim to Scammers that Call and Claim to be DEA Agents

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning psychologists to be aware of a prescription drug scam. This telephone scheme is extorting money from people all over the country. On November 28, 2012, the DEA released a press release explaining the details of the scam.

Details of the Scam.

The scam starts with criminals posing as DEA agents calling victims by telephone. Frequently the victims will have recently purchased prescription drugs over the internet or by phone. The imposters tell the victims that purchasing the drugs in that manner is illegal, and that they must pay a fine. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:50-04:00May 15, 2018|Clinical Social Worker, Department of Health, Intern, Marital and Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, Psychology, Resident|

Nurses, No More Excuses: Get a Personal Professional Liability Insurance Policy Now-Part 1

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

To protect yourself from automobile accidents, you carry auto liability insurance. To protect your home from fire, storms and other accidents, you carry homeowners’ insurance. However, I have noticed many nurses fail to carry any insurance to protect one of their most precious assets, their nursing licenses. Yet such insurance is cheap and easy to obtain. I cannot stress enough how important it is for a nurse to carry a personal professional liability insurance policy that covers any investigation, complaint or […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:17-04:00May 15, 2018|Board of Nursing, Defense, Department of Health, Insurance, Nurses Service Organization|

Appealing Final Orders and Emergency Suspension Orders (ESOs) from the Florida Board of Nursing

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The professional boards for licensed health professionals in Florida, such as the Board of Nursing, are all under the Florida Department of Health (DOH). Each board is responsible for disciplinary actions and other matters regulating the professions under its authority. The investigators and attorneys assigned for Board of Nursing matters all work for or are assigned to the DOH. The Florida DOH is headed up by the Florida Surgeon General. I think of the DOH as the umbrella agency over the professional boards or as a parent corporation which owns many subsidiary corporations.

Administrative Procedures Governing Investigations […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:17-04:00May 15, 2018|Board of Nursing, Department of Health, Discipline, Emergency Suspension Order, Insurance, Nurse License|

Florida Woman Arrested for Allegedly Posing as a Nurse, Giving Botox Injections-For Second Time

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

A Boca Raton, Florida, woman was arrested on June 21, 2013, after authorities say she posed as a nurse and offered Botox injections. The fake nurse has been charged with unlicensed practice of a health care professional. If found guilty, the phony nurse could be sentenced to up to five years in jail. This was a joint investigation between the Florida Department of Health (DOH) Investigative Services Unit, the City of Boca Raton Police Department and the Florida Department of Corrections.

To read the press release from the DOH, click here.

Undercover Agents Visited Fake Nurse at […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:16-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health, Malpractice, Patient Care|