Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Chicago’s Professional Standards and DUI Risks
In Chicago, professionals are held to a higher standard of personal conduct—especially physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and healthcare workers. A DUI arrest may appear to be a “personal” matter, but the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) treats it as a professional integrity issue. Even one conviction under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, Illinois’ DUI statute, can lead to a review of your medical license and possible disciplinary action. As a Chicago criminal defense attorney with decades of experience representing professionals in Cook County, DuPage County, and beyond, I’ve seen how quickly a simple traffic stop can threaten years of medical education and hard-earned credentials.
Chicago’s hospitals, from Rush University Medical Center to Northwestern Memorial, rely on licensed professionals who maintain clean records. A physician convicted of DUI risks losing hospital privileges, DEA prescribing authority, or even their employment. The Illinois Medical Practice Act (225 ILCS 60/1) gives IDFPR broad authority to discipline license holders for “unprofessional conduct,” which includes substance-related criminal convictions.
