Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico–Military medical providers are required to be licensed by a home state, but their military superiors hold immense power over the status of their ability to practice medicine in the armed forces, as well as when they separate.
In this particular case, the military medical provider had committed misconduct, saying something behind closed doors that was inappropriate for a military member, especially so an officer. The provider was punished by the military, receiving an Article 15 non-judicial punishment, which is a career-ender for an officer.
But that wasn’t enough for this medical treatment facility (MTF). The privileging authority demanded full revocation of this medical provider’s ability to care for patients–an incredibly rare result, especially considering the misconduct had nothing to do with patient care and since there was no criminal conviction. Veritas Military Law stepped in to help represent the provider.
At the Peer-Review Hearing Panel, Mr. Tolin broke down the MTF’s allegations and the process at the hearing. Even though the MTF had alleged multiple wrongdoings by the provider, the only proof was from the single action evidenced in the non-judicial punishment.
Mr. Tolin dissected the law and the facts to the peer-review panel, ultimately obtaining a recommendation from the provider’s peers of full restoration of privileges, which is the extreme opposite of the privileging authority’s proposal: full revocation. What Mr. Tolin spotlighted during the hearing was that the allegations sounded terrible, but the truth was less bad–and in no way should this provider be prohibited from helping the patients the Defense Health Agency so desparately needs.