What should I do if my residency removes me from duties without anything in writing?

Within a day, ask in writing for your status, the policy and step it falls under, the reason, and what ends it. Then compare what happened against every step of the program's written discipline policy.

When should I object to who is on my residency hearing panel?

Before the hearing, in writing. An objection raised after an adverse decision carries much less weight.

Case Study

Case study: removed from duties with nothing in writing, then dismissed after a hearing

2026-05-27

Short answer

Put a verbal removal in writing within a day, map every step against the program's written discipline policy, never decide a resign-or-dismiss offer in the room, file the grievance with a document demand, and object to the panel in writing before the hearing.

A resident was removed from duties in a short conversation, with nothing in writing.

This case study draws on a matter we have worked on. It is told in broad steps only. Names, institutions, specialties, locations, dates, and other identifying details are left out, and it does not describe the current status of any matter.

If any part of this has started for you, start a confidential intake and include your deadlines.

What happened, in broad steps

The resident was taken off the schedule verbally, and then heard nothing for weeks.
A competency committee recommended dismissal, and the resident was offered a short window to resign instead.
The resident was terminated and filed a grievance with a demand for documents.
A panel heard the grievance and ruled against the resident.

What it teaches

Put a verbal removal in writing the same day. Ask for your status, the policy it falls under, and what ends it. See suspended with no letter.
Hold the program to its own discipline policy. Map each step it requires against what was actually done.
Never decide a resign-or-dismiss offer in the room. Ask for the documents and an extension in writing. See the first 48 hours.
File the grievance with a document demand. See the grievance request outline.
Challenge the panel before the hearing, and plan for the outcome before the decision issues.
Plan for pay and insurance. A grievance usually does not pause a termination.

More of the patterns behind this sequence: the patterns we see.

Every matter turns on its own record, contract, and policies, and a similar sequence can end differently. This is general information, not legal advice.

If this is happening to you

Facing a deadline from your program? Tell us what you have received and when your deadline is. We will review your situation confidentially and point you to the right next step: start a confidential intake.

Resident Help is not a law firm, and submitting an intake does not create an attorney-client relationship. If your situation needs a lawyer, we will tell you and help you find one.

Common questions

What should I do if my residency removes me from duties without anything in writing?: Within a day, ask in writing for your status, the policy and step it falls under, the reason, and what ends it. Then compare what happened against every step of the program's written discipline policy.
When should I object to who is on my residency hearing panel?: Before the hearing, in writing. An objection raised after an adverse decision carries much less weight.

Sources

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Institutional Requirements, 2025

If this is happening to you

You can send us a short note in about ninety seconds. It is free, it is confidential, and it does not commit you to anything.

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This post is general information and not legal advice. Institutional policies and board rules change, so confirm the version in force on your dates.

Related guidance

Resign or be dismissed: what to do in the first 48 hours
Programs often present resignation and dismissal as the only two choices, with a deadline measured in hours. The deadline is usually negotiable, the choices are usually not the only ones, and what you do before it expires shapes everything that follows.
How to request a grievance hearing after a residency dismissal: an outline with a document demand
Some appeal windows are five business days. A grievance or appeal request does not need to argue the whole case. It needs to be on time, name the policy, and demand the documents. This outline shows the structure.
How a GME due process hearing works, and how to prepare for yours
If you are facing suspension, non-renewal, non-promotion, or dismissal, your institution must provide due process. The hearing is won or lost on the record and the institution's own procedures, and preparation looks different from what most residents expect.
The patterns we see in residency dismissals
Dismissals in graduate medical education rarely arrive out of nowhere. The same moves recur across programs and specialties: verbal removals, short deadlines, elections where every option ends the same way, and records that change after the fact. Recognizing the pattern early is most of the defense.

Start here

Questions residents ask, answered
Short answers to every question our guides cover, from resignation offers and appeal deadlines to accommodations and visas.
Know your rights as a resident
What your program owes you under ACGME requirements, what federal law protects, and the first 72 hours.
Court decisions on resident dismissal and probation
Published opinions every resident should know before a probation, dismissal, or forced-leave decision.
The free Residency Record
The documents every resident should keep, the dates that decide non-renewal, and a private place for both.