The knowledge of medical science gives doctors the expertise to diagnose ailments and find their cures. If you’re a doctor, you surely realize the weight of responsibilities you carry on your shoulders. However, you also need to abide by regulations and possess a valid license to carry out your medical practice.
A doctor must renew the license in time to avoid legal action. It is also crucial to have a doctors’ professional liability insurance policy so that you are covered against lawsuits.
Here is what will happen if you continue your practice without a valid license:
Higher Risk of Criminal Penalties
It is illegal to practice medicine without authorization. Doctors doing so run the risk of facing criminal penalties. Such acts can cost doctors a fortune and affect their finances significantly.
“An effective treatment” cannot be a valid defense for unlicensed medical practice.
Along with that, having a doctor’s liability insurance policy can help you avoid the financial burden in case of medical malpractice, but only if you have a valid license.
Risk of Patients Filing Lawsuits
Compelling proof of malpractice or mala fide intentions is practicing without a license. In such cases, a patient can file a lawsuit even without suffering any harm.
The court may ask the guilty doctor to pay compensation along with penalties for deceiving the patient.
Cancellation of Licence
A doctor found practicing medicine without a valid license can lose any existing permits for the long term. This can lead to a break in medical practice even without being accused of medical negligence. Therefore, one must not take renewing the license lightly.
Additional Read: Coverages offered by doctors professional liability insurance?
Loss of Reputation
Moreover, every doctor is required to abide by the rules and regulations governing the medical profession. Failing to do so can lead to suspension of the medical license.
This, in turn, could harm the doctor’s reputation and end a career that has been built with years of training. Doctors accused of treating patients without a license lose the trust of patients. Unethical behavior can lead to a loss of reputation, which is essential in the medical industry. A doctor cannot continue to practice after losing the patients’ trust.
Moreover, with the number of medical negligence cases increasing in India, it is advisable to avoid situations that invite lawsuits. An ethical practice will ensure a safe career.
Do note that without a valid medical license an insurance claim through professional indemnity will also not be paid. Although this write-up is about individual medical licenses, it also holds true for hospitals. These hospitals must operate with a valid registration certificate. Insurers may also hold back claims if the incident took place in an unregistered workplace.
Also, it is essential for medical professionals to have a doctor’s liability insurance policy as it offers coverage against all claims arising out of medical negligence. It thus acts as a backup for doctors facing legal liabilities.
