The Florida Medical Board is considered one of the most difficult medical boards in the United States. However when you compare the Florida Medical Board’s action in comparison to other Medical Boards, it is clear that the reputation is not entirely factual.

A physician applied to the Florida Medical Board who had been dismissed from his employer due to violating his employment contract with the Hospital. He was an avid gun collector. He had purchased a rare pistol and during his lunch hour we went to the Gun Dealer to pick it up. Instead of leaving it in his car or trunk (boxed up), he decided to place the firearm in his locker. This was his first mistake. The second mistake was that he showed the rare pistol to a colleague. The Colleague then commented to a Nurse that the Physician had shown him the rare pistol and it was in his locker. The Nurse filed a complaint with the Hospital Administration. The Hospital Administration held a disciplinary hearing and terminated him immediately. The physician disclosed this issue to the Florida Medical Board when the application was submitted. The Florida Medical Board called him before the Full Board to interview him and vote on his application. He was approved by one vote. The Director of the Board voted against him because “I just don’t like guns and any one who has guns doesn’t need to be a physician”. This was not the end of the ordeal. The Florida Medical Board received a report from the State where the doctor was licensed that the Physician had been treated for depression within the last 5 years. The Physician had not disclosed this issue to the Board. The Board then called the Physician to the next Medical Board Meeting. At that meeting the Board issued a fine and reprimand. He was allowed to retain his license and continue practicing. This might seem severe but lets compare this to a couple of other examples with other Medical Boards.

We had an applicant apply to the North Carolina Medical Board. He was going to volunteer for the summer at a Free Medical Clinic in the Smoky Mountains. This was considered an “Under Served Area”. The vast majority of the population was poor and uninsured. The Physician would receive no compensation for his services. The Physician had a malpractice suit in the early 1990′s. He reported the suit to the Board. The suit settled out of court. However, the physician forgot to disclose that the State Medical Board had received a complaint from the Attorney of the patient who was filing the suit. The Medical Board performed the required investigation into the matter and found no cause for any action. Because the investigation was connected to the Malpractice Case and the Board had not proceeded with any action, the physician didn’t remember the action when completing the application. The North Carolina Board accused him of hiding the investigation and told him that he was a person of low character. He explained what his practice plans were and the Board voted to deny his application. He chose to withdraw the application instead of having a denial on his record. He was unable to volunteer for the summer.

The first physician purposefully did not disclose the treatment issue with Florida. The second physician misinterpreted the question on the application but fully disclosed the main issue which caused the frivolous complaint. Which Board was more severe? Which Medical Board was more reasonable?

We had a physician who had a DUI while in College (not Medical School). The Physician reported it to the Medical Board of California when he filed his application. The California Medical Board decided to force him to attend a Substance Abuse Evaluation. He passed the evaluation with no issues. The Medical Board of California denied him on the advise of his case worker who was assigned his application. He sued the Board and won. The Court ordered the California Medical Board to issue his license. The Medical Board refused. He is still in court to this day fighting this issue with California.

It is in our opinion that the Florida Medical Board has a reputation which is not based on fact. Physician who lie on their application will likely earn a fine and reprimand. Lie to other Medical Boards like North Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, California and you will likely receive a denial. The Florida Medical License is a fast and easy license to obtain as long as you disclose everything. Its’ reputation is not earned.

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