Theft, in its essence, is the illegal taking of one thing precious from one other. Whereas normally related to materials possessions, it additionally extends to intangible belongings reminiscent of time, popularity, and emotional well-being. When authorities like medical boards or the Division of Justice (DOJ) interact in unfair practices grounded in presumptive guilt, they aren’t simply misusing their roles however actively stripping people of those invaluable assets—an abuse of energy that undermines the ideas of equity and justice.
Some of the obvious types of this abuse is the “accuse first, show later” strategy. Relatively than responsibly investigating and substantiating claims earlier than making accusations, these entities prematurely subject fees or open inquiries based mostly on flimsy or unverified allegations. This flips the method of justice on its head, forcing the accused to shoulder a burden of proving their very own innocence—a transparent and harmful distortion of due course of.
For medical professionals, this abuse is especially dangerous. Physicians, whose experience and time are vital to societal well-being, are all of a sudden caught in a bureaucratic nightmare the place they have to divert numerous hours from affected person care to defend themselves in opposition to doubtful claims. As an alternative of saving lives or advancing medical science, they’re dragged into hearings, procedural traps, and reputational battles brought on by the irresponsible wielding of authority by regulatory our bodies.
This misuse of institutional energy creates a hostile surroundings the place suspicion and intimidation change equity and motive. It sends a chilling message: Irrespective of how devoted or moral knowledgeable could also be, they continue to be weak to the whims of an unjust system that prioritizes asserting dominance over figuring out fact.
Let’s not mince phrases, that is state-sponsored vanity disguised as justice. Relatively than serving their supposed goal of defending the general public and making certain skilled integrity, entities like medical boards and/or the DOJ exploit their authority to accuse with out trigger and examine with out discretion. This abusive follow transforms harmless professionals into de facto defendants, corroding the belief in these establishments and fostering a tradition of worry and distrust.
The moral absurdity of such an strategy speaks for itself. Think about being accused of against the law solely to see if proof can later justify the accusation. Sound unjust? That’s as a result of it’s. This abuse of energy successfully weaponizes accusations, treating them not as instruments for accountability however as devices for overwhelming, discrediting, and destabilizing people who don’t have any prior fault.
And what occurs when the accusations are later discovered to be baseless? Nothing. There may be not often accountability for the accuser, no acknowledgment of fault by the system, and worst of all, no restitution for the accused. Physicians and professionals who’ve been via this ordeal are left to tally up the harm: misplaced time, tarnished reputations, emotional hurt, and typically careers irrevocably derailed. The dearth of reparation makes this abuse of energy much more appalling and entrenches the system’s lack of accountability.
At its core, the conduct of those authorities constitutes a betrayal of their mandate. By abusing their platforms to accuse professionals with out correct proof, they fail to embody the integrity and equity they demand from these they oversee. As an alternative of fostering a strong, moral system, they feed into inefficiency, worry, and injustice, undermining the very people who maintain vital sectors like well being care operational.
This institutionalized abuse of energy requires systemic overhaul. Authorities like medical boards and the DOJ should be held to larger requirements of transparency, accountability, and restraint. Accusations should be supported by verified proof earlier than they’re made, and the burden of proof should stick with the accuser, not the accused. Equally, these authorities should face penalties for misusing their energy, and programs of restitution must be established to compensate professionals whose lives are disrupted by baseless claims.
With out such modifications, the cycle will solely proceed, tarnishing careers, losing time, and compromising public belief. Time is a finite, irreplaceable useful resource, and to unjustly steal it from professionals via abuse of authority is nothing lower than an act of institutional theft. Till authorities undertake moral accountability and equity, they are going to stay complicit in perpetuating hurt underneath the guise of oversight, a betrayal that society can not and mustn’t tolerate.
Kayvan Haddadan is a physiatrist and ache administration doctor.
