If I am a NURSE, DOCTOR or PHARMACIST ARRESTED FOR D.U.I. what do I need to know?
NURSE, DOCTOR or PHARMACIST ARRESTED FOR D.U.I. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
If you are Nurse, Doctor or Pharmacist and have been arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol or Controlled Substances, what is your next step to protect your rights and professional License? It is clearly in your best interest and an investment in your future to hire a knowledgeable, qualified and capable defense attorney to advise and counsel you for the two (2) problems which now exist.
If you are arrested for DUI, you will be facing the following two separate and distinct investigations and prosecutions:
- A criminal investigation and prosecution by the District Attorney of Allegheny County (or whichever County in which the arrest occurred); and
- An investigation and possible administrative prosecution by the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs on behalf of your particular Licensing Board (i.e. Board of Nursing for Nurses Board of Medicine for Doctors, Physicians Assistants, Pharmacy Board for Pharmacists, etc.).
Some Nurses and Doctors immediately hire an attorney who knows only DUI defense, and although many attorneys are very capable in that specific area, they have no knowledge of the Licensing Board and PHMP investigation and prosecution process. Mishandling the Licensing Board investigation can lead to discipline against your professional License, Professional Health Monitoring Programs [PHMP] monitoring (i.e. the Voluntary Recovery Program [VRP], the Disciplinary Monitoring Unit [DMU] and PNAP), or even Suspension of your Medical, Nursing or Pharmacy License.
Then they hire a second attorney to represent them in the second matter and pay a second Attorney Fee.
Joseph Alexander Paletta is a lawyer who will represent Nurses in the defense against Driving Under the Influence criminal charges AND in defense against the Board of Nursing imposing consequences against the Nursing License as a result of the DUI charges. Therefore, a Nurse need not hire two separate lawyers, one for each service. Look at the website www.palettalaw.com to see how Nurses have already benefitted from retaining Attorney Paletta. Email Attorney Paletta at joseph@palettalaw.com or call 24/7 at 412-391-7999.