Jim McGovern

Mr. McGovern has helped me and my family through some very difficult legal issues with the State Medical Board. He has always been very professional in his dealings and very knowledgeable about what would be likely outcomes. I would certainly recommend him as counsel if you are in need of someone w...ho has had experience in dealing with the Medical and Nursing Boards.

It was stressful time, my previous lawyer was adding more stress than finding a resolution. Jim was more understanding and approachable. He is matter of fact and staright shooter. I think the situation could have been resolved earlier if I had hired him from the begining. I highly recommend him. Than...ks Jim.

I retained Jim McGovern after voluntarily self-referring to the Ohio Physician Health Program and ultimately spent approximately $5,500 on legal representation, primarily involving my interactions with the Ohio Physician Health Program. Mr. McGovern was generally responsive, courteous, and profession...al. However, I did not believe the representation justified the cost. The defining issue for me arose when the Ohio Physician Health Program effectively required me to attend what it characterized as a residential treatment program. I had voluntarily entered the PHP because of a self-identified alcohol problem, but instead found myself as the only woman in a residential treatment cohort composed largely of healthcare professionals facing allegations involving sexual-boundary issues and related misconduct (some of whom were later convicted of criminal sexual offenses). I found that environment profoundly inappropriate for my circumstances and explained my concerns to Mr. McGovern in detail. Despite those concerns, I was advised to continue with the program. That experience ultimately cost me more than $70,000. His response was to “trust the therapeutic process” and continue complying with the program’s recommendations. I appreciate that compliance may sometimes be the least risky legal strategy. However, I did not spend approximately $5,500 simply to be told to comply with whatever the program required. I expected more independent legal analysis, negotiation, and advocacy at this price point. At a minimum, I would have hoped that an attorney whose practice regularly involves physician health programs would better prepare clients for the realities of the residential programs they recommend and more critically evaluate whether those programs were appropriate for the individual client. I also would have expected practical legal guidance about the realities of the process. This is not the same as meeting with a typical treating therapist. Statements made during evaluation and treatment can have significant professional consequences, and disclosure is often a delicate process. Effective counsel should help clients understand those realities while remaining honest and compliant—not simply advise them to “trust the therapeutic process.” That remains a major reason I am writing this review. That became the theme of the representation. When I later questioned Ohio PHP’s continuing fees and contractual practices after I had moved out of state, I sought legal analysis and advocacy. Instead, I was ultimately told that he could not help me with those issues and was referred elsewhere. After spending thousands of dollars, I was left feeling that the principal issues I had hired counsel to address were never meaningfully advocated. To be fair, one piece of advice Mr. McGovern gave me ultimately proved correct. When I questioned whether it was even worth continuing through the process or whether I would realistically be able to practice medicine again afterward, he expressed confidence that I would ultimately be able to return to work. That advice was a significant factor in my decision to continue, and in my case he was right—I ultimately regained my medical career. For that, I remain grateful. I should also note that my experience did not involve defending an active disciplinary case before the Medical Board. Although the possibility of Board involvement was always present, I was never actually defending a Board action. My criticism is therefore limited to representation involving the Ohio Physician Health Program. For those matters, I did not believe the legal services I received justified the fees I paid.

My personal impression is that Mr. McGovern will REPRESENT you, but not fight for you. Every conversation is a fee. No question can be asked without a fee. Bills for everything. He claims my consent agreement sat in his Spam mailbox for over a month and he only looked for it when I called him to ask ...about. By then I had no option but to sign with permanent restrictions that limit my career choices. Yes I am practicing. But like he says, that is up to the BON. My impression is that he put a standard packet together, the BON saw I represented and complied and they signed off. I doubt he fought to get any of these restrictions removed. Now they are permanent with no chance of a change. My advice is to find a different attorney