A dental hygienist in Florida has been ruled by a court of law to be delinquent on their child support. What action can the Board of Dentistry take?

When a dental hygienist in Florida is ruled by a court of law to be delinquent on their child support, the Board of Dentistry is authorized to take specific actions to address this situation. One of the potential actions is to hold or deny the license, which is in line with regulations that ensure practitioners comply with their legal obligations, including child support.

The rationale behind this approach is to uphold the integrity of the profession and ensure that all licensed practitioners meet their responsibilities, both legally and ethically. By holding or denying the license, the Board emphasizes the importance of compliance with court orders as a requisite for maintaining licensure. This action serves as a method of accountability, reinforcing that professional responsibilities extend beyond the clinical setting and into personal obligations.

Other options do not align with the legal framework governing dental licensure and child support compliance. For example, revoking the license permanently might be viewed as overly punitive without considering the specific circumstances or allowing for potential remediation. Issuing a warning could imply a lesser degree of seriousness regarding child support obligations, and promoting the hygienist to a leadership position would contradict the expectations of professional conduct and responsibility that the Board seeks to enforce.