Criminally charged healthcare workers in Illinois, including those accused of abusing patients, often face little oversight or experience delayed discipline, The Chicago Tribune reported Dec. 6.
The agency that oversees medical professionals said some delays are because local prosecutors do not promptly report charges of sexual assault involving medical workers. A review of documents from police departments, state attorney offices and courts found most of the delays were due to the licensing agency, not the local authorities. Some enforcement agencies are unaware of reporting requirements, however.
Within five days of a report, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is required to order a medical chaperone to accompany these workers as litigation proceeds. That rarely happens, according to the Tribune investigation.
Since 2019, 35 Illinois healthcare workers have been criminally charged. For about half, the state's licensing agency did not take action within a month of the charges, and at least eight went six months without discipline, according to the article. One endocrinologist practiced, with a chaperone, after pleading guilty to criminal battery charges, yet his license was not revoked until nearly two years after he was first charged.
A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation told the Tribune that it is taking proactive measures to improve communication between police, prosecutors and the department.