State Revokes Licenses of Health Care Workers Convicted of Sex Crimes or Crimes against Patients

CHICAGO – Earlier today, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) revoked the licenses of 11 health care workers who have been convicted of sex offenses or violent crimes against their patients.  These revocations are required by a new law signed by Governor Quinn last month.  HB 1271 (Public Act 97-0156) provides that the professional license of any health care worker who has been convicted of a sex offense or of a violent crime against their patients is permanently revoked without a hearing and further provides that sex offenders cannot be licensed as health care workers in Illinois.

“The State takes its responsibilities to protect our residents seriously,” said Brent E. Adams, Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.  “This new law establishes tough outcomes that are intended to shield Illinois patients from health care workers who have been convicted of sex offenses and certain violent crimes.”

While many health care workers are covered by the new law, regulations will be proposed to specifically list all the types of health care workers that are covered by the law.  The law also lists most of the crimes requiring permanent revocation, but regulations will be proposed to make clear all the crimes that trigger permanent revocation.  These proposed regulations will be filed later this year.

Each health care worker whose license was revoked today appears on IDFPR.com, along with the city at which he/she was licensed, and the crime that triggered the permanent revocation.