Medical Students | The Health Law Firm Blog

Cheating, Irregular Behavior and Other Maladies Plaguing Future Physicians: A Two-Part Series

The road to becoming a physician is paved with many unique challenges. The uphill battle begins with rigorous undergraduate course work, followed by the MCAT and medical school applications. Upon acceptance into medical school, the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) and its STEP 1 and STEP 2 exams provide another hurdle. At any of these stages, a student can be accused of numerous faults including cheating, misrepresentation, falsification of information, unfair advantages and the many faces of “irregular behavior.”

Today’s post focuses on the challenges imposed on a student prior to entering medical school. On Friday, the implications of various forms of “misconduct” for med students will be dissected (including USMLE irregular behavior and the case of NBME and FSMB […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:26-04:00June 1, 2018|Health Care Industry, In the Know, Medical Students, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Cheating, Irregular Behavior and Other Maladies Plaguing Future Physicians: A Two-Part Series

The road to becoming a physician is paved with many unique challenges. The uphill battle begins with rigorous undergraduate course work, followed by the MCAT and medical school applications. Upon acceptance into medical school, you are faced with the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) and its STEP 1 and STEP 2 exams. At any of these stages, a student can be accused of numerous faults including cheating, misrepresentation, falsification of information, unfair advantages and the many faces of “irregular behavior.”

On Wednesday, the challenges of a pre-med student were discussed. Today’s post focuses on the challenges imposed on a student after entering medical school.

So you made it to medical school. Congratulations! After years of slaving away in biology and […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:26-04:00June 1, 2018|Health Care Industry, In the Know, Medical Students, NBME, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Students Graduating Medical School in Three Years

By Danielle M. Murray, J.D.

To combat the nationwide shortage of primary care physicians and the increase in student debt, several medical schools around the country are offering the chance for students to finish school in three years, instead of four. According to a number of news articles, these programs are geared specifically toward medical students looking to practice primary care. The hope is that these programs will be cost less for students and add more primary care physicians to under-served areas.

Schools Across the U.S. Offer Three-Year Degrees.

According to an article in The New York Times, a small number of students are currently participating in […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:43-04:00June 1, 2018|Medical Student, Medical Students, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Lehigh University Student Sues Grad School for $1.3 Million for Bad Grade

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

While in school, we all received grades that we believed to be unfair or unwarranted. One graduate of Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, has taken her bad grade to court. She is suing the university over a “C+” grade. In the lawsuit, the student claims that if not for a zero she was given in participation for a fieldwork class in 2009, she would have gotten a “B.” That grade would have allegedly allowed the student to move on toward finishing her master’s in counseling and human services. The student claims the one bad grade […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:45-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, In the News, Medical Students, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Tips for Medical Students and Medical Residents Accused of Irregular Behavior on the USMLE

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

We frequently receive calls for consultations from students who receive a letter from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) accusing the medical student or medical resident of “Irregular Behavior” on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). In many cases these are graduates of foreign medical schools who have applied through the Examination Committee for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

Irregular behavior can consist of many different things before, during or after taking the USMLE. What you must know is that, in effect, you are being accused of cheating.

Examples of What […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:46-04:00June 1, 2018|Administrative law, Medical Students, The Health Law Firm Blog, USMLE|

Medical Students and Residents Must Fight Allegations of “Irregular Behavior” on the USMLE Step Exams

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

I am constantly taking calls from medical students and residents (or future residents) relating to allegations brought against them of “irregular behavior” in connection with the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) exams. Although the term “irregular behavior” is equated by many with the word “cheating,” it is actually defined by the USMLE to mean:

Irregular behavior includes any action by applicants, examinees, potential applicants, or others when solicited by an applicant and/or examinee that subverts or attempts to subvert the examination process.

The notice that a person has been accused of irregular behavior may […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:49-04:00June 1, 2018|Administrative law, Medical Students, NBME, The Health Law Firm Blog, USMLE|

New MCAT Will Put the Social Skills of Potential Doctors to the Test

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

The 8,200 aspiring doctors expected to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) this year will be seeing a different exam than their predecessors.

The doctor-patient dynamic is changing. So, to stay on top of this shift in the health care industry, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) announced in April 2015, the first major revision to the MCAT in 25 years. This test is the first high-stake exam encountered by physicians. The big difference physician hopefuls will notice is that the new test assesses social aptitude and not just hard science.

The New MCAT.

There […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:59-04:00June 1, 2018|Health Care Industry, In the Know, In the News, Medical Students, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Ready or Not, It’s Irregular Behavior Season…

By Lenis L. Archer, J.D., M.P.H., The Health Law Firm

Every year at regular intervals, our firm receives calls from panicked medical students and residents about a recent letter they have received, alleging irregular behavior.

This letter may come from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). No matter the organization, if you receive a letter alleging irregular behavior, it will typically say the following:

1. A bulletin or policy related to the exam stating that Irregular Behavior is not permitted.
2. The facts alleging irregular behavior in this case.
3. You have an opportunity to respond […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:59-04:00June 1, 2018|Medical Student, Medical Students, NBME, The Health Law Firm Blog, USMLE|