Sacramento Medical License Defense Attorney

Medical professionals work hard to reach their positions, requiring years of higher education before entering their chosen field. Allegations of misconduct or troubles obtaining a license can threaten their careers. If you are currently applying for a certificate or are facing having it revoked, a Sacramento medical license defense lawyer can advocate for you in this difficult period.
About Us
Century Law Group, LLP, has spent years helping the people of Sacramento, Los Angeles, and throughout California defend their medical licenses. Our team boasts over a century of combined legal experience, with our founder, Edward Lear, having handled hundreds of cases since the mid-1980s. Mr. Lear was also invited to join the American Board of Trial Advocates, one of the highest honors a California trial lawyer can receive.
Overview of Medical Licenses in California
Medical professionals are vital community members of California. The 2023-2024 annual report from the Medical Board of California reported 153,462 current licenses, representing a growth of 4,693 compared to the previous fiscal year. These licenses cover MDs, such as physicians and surgeons, polysomnographic professionals, and licensed midwives. As of January 1, 2025, research psychoanalysts were transferred to the Board of Psychology.
How Does a Medical License Defense Case Work?
Medical license defense cases under the Medical Board of California typically start with a formal complaint from a patient or a mandatory report from another healthcare professional. Common reasons for disciplinary cases include:
- Medication errors. This includes incorrect dosage, wrong prescription, prescribing without proper examination, or prescriptions to themselves or family members.
- Medical mistakes. Actions made by the licensee that cause injury to a patient, failure to reasonably help a patient, failure to maintain medical records, or other actions that can be seen as negligent or incompetent.
- Inappropriate behavior with patients. This includes inappropriate touching, improper behavior with patients, or engaging in a forbidden relationship with a patient.
- Criminal charges. Even a dismissed accusation of a DUI, domestic violence, assault, theft, or other related crimes can result in disciplinary action.
- Substance or alcohol use. The use of any controlled substance, or the use of dangerous drugs, or alcohol in a way that endangers any other person is strictly prohibited.
Details of the incident are submitted to the Board’s Central Complaint Unit (CCU), which investigates the allegations. If the Board determines that disciplinary action is needed, a notice of accusation is sent to the licensee listing the charges and laws violated.
When you are given a formal accusation, you have 15 days to request a hearing through a notice of defense sent to the Medical Board of California and the Deputy Attorney General. The notice to the Medical Board should be addressed to the Discipline Coordination Unit at 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200, in Sacramento. If you do not request a hearing, the Board may proceed without your input.
Hire a Medical License Defense Lawyer
Defending yourself in a medical license defense case, regardless of the validity of allegations, can be a frustrating and overwhelming process to go through alone. Hire a medical license defense lawyer to represent you before the Medical Board.
Our Sacramento medical license defense attorney can help you with every step of the process. They can help present professional responses to the CCU, attend a meeting with the investigator in your case, and draft your notice of defense to request a formal hearing.
Before your hearing, a medical license defense lawyer from Century Law Group, LLP, can gather evidence that supports your side and demonstrates your strength of character. If disciplinary action seems unavoidable, we can negotiate the penalties down to lesser consequences. If your license is revoked, our team can help you explore your next potential legal actions.

FAQs
How Much Does a Medical License Defense Lawyer Cost in California?
How much your medical license defense lawyer costs depends on the type of case you need assistance with, its complexity, and the time it requires. A simple case involving a standard renewal or help with acquiring a first license tends to be less expensive than representation for a lengthy disciplinary hearing with serious accusations. Our firm offers consultations where we can provide an estimate for what your final bill may be.
What Are the Disciplinary Actions Applied by the Medical Board of California?
Disciplinary actions carried out by the Medical Board of California range in severity. Potential penalties include a fine of up to $5,000, a Letter of Reprimand, suspension of license, probation of license, or revocation of license. Suspensions can potentially last anywhere from a month up to a year, and are often ordered in conjunction with a probationary period. When a license is revoked, the licensee is barred from reapplying for a minimum of three years.
What Is Unprofessional Conduct According to the Medical Board of California?
What the Medical Board of California defines as unprofessional conduct is broadly detailed in the California Business and Professions Code Statute 2234. The code specifies gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence, an act of dishonesty related to a licensee’s duties, failure to attend an interview by the Board, and intimidating acts towards a patient who filed a complaint.
What qualifies as unprofessional conduct is not limited to the code and is at the discretion of the Medical Board of California.
What Is the Medical Practice Act in California?
The Medical Practice Act (MPA) in Sacramento, California refers to the legislature that governs medical licenses, defines unprofessional conduct, disciplinary measures, scope of practice, and what constitutes a mandatory report. It is included in state law under California Business and Professions Code, Statutes 2000-2529, and is the legal guidelines for physicians, surgeons, and certain other health professions licensed through the Medical Board of California.
Speak With a Medical License Defense Attorney Today
Century Law Group, LLP, has the knowledge and experience that can make a positive impact on your case. We can help all medical licensed professionals, whether you’re a surgeon at Kaiser Permanente, a doctor at Mercy General, or work anywhere else in the Sacramento Area.
Contact us today for a consultation, where we can learn your story and address any concerns you have. You may also visit our Fair Oaks office, located on Fair Oaks Boulevard, down the street from the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce and right off Sunrise Boulevard.



