The licensing of medical professionals in Houston is a critical part of patient safety and maintaining standards of medical professionals. The failure to follow acceptable standards happens when medical professionals are not licensed or their performance is not periodically evaluated. This often results in medical professionals with substandard training and oversight.
A recent proposal in Texas has alarmed some people in the health care industry. The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission has recommended that 19 medical professions no longer be licensed. The commission believes that these professions can be adequately monitored by the hospitals and private agency oversight. Professions include respiratory therapists, X-ray technicians, and medical physicists. Vulnerable patients may be at risk if this proposal becomes effective. Professionals, such as respiratory therapists who often place patients on life support, would no longer receive a background check every two years and would not have guaranteed training. Screening of these important medical professionals would no longer be done and people who have lost their license in other states would be able to practice in Texas.
Vulnerable patients deserve to have the best medical care possible even though they often cannot defend themselves. Families who are facing a situation in which their loved one is in a worsened condition because of delayed treatment or a negligent medical professional may find that speaking with an attorney skilled in medical malpractice can be helpful. These attorneys can investigate the loved one’s medical care and determine who is at fault for the unacceptable treatment.
Licensing requirements protect patients from health care professionals who do not possess the proper training and other requirements necessary for the job. When this oversight is removed it can lead to medical negligence.
Source: KVUE.com, “Proposal would end license requirements for some health care workers,” Janet St. James, June 24, 2014
EXPERTLY REVIEWED BY
John A. Davis, Jr. and Steven R. Davis
August 4 2023
Steven R. Davis and John A. Davis, Jr. are experienced attorneys at Davis & Davis, a law firm that specializes in medical malpractice cases in Texas. With a deep commitment to justice that guides their ethical approach, Davis and Davis have dedicated their careers to helping victims of medical negligence. They and their team continue to advocate for clients, despite the challenges posed by Texas's cap on recoverable damages in malpractice lawsuits. Davis & Davis pride themselves on their extensive experience in the field and their readiness to meet clients across the United States.
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