Theft, in its essence, is the unlawful taking of something valuable from another. While usually associated with material possessions, it also extends to intangible assets such as time, reputation, and emotional well-being. When authorities like medical boards or the Department of Justice (DOJ) engage in unfair practices grounded in presumptive guilt, they are not just misusing their roles but actively stripping individuals of these invaluable resources—an abuse of power that undermines the principles of fairness and justice.

One of the most glaring forms of this abuse is the “accuse first, prove later” approach. Rather than responsibly investigating and substantiating claims before making accusations, these entities prematurely issue charges or open inquiries based on flimsy or unverified allegations. This flips the process of justice on its head, forcing the accused to shoulder a burden of proving their own innocence—a clear and dangerous distortion of due process.

For medical professionals, this abuse is particularly harmful. Physicians, whose expertise and time are critical to societal well-being, are suddenly caught in a bureaucratic nightmare where they must divert countless hours from patient care to defend themselves against dubious claims. Instead of saving lives or advancing medical science, they are dragged into hearings, procedural traps, and reputational battles caused by the irresponsible wielding of authority by regulatory bodies.

This misuse of institutional power creates a hostile environment where suspicion and intimidation replace fairness and reason. It sends a chilling message: No matter how dedicated or ethical a professional may be, they remain vulnerable to the whims of an unjust system that prioritizes asserting dominance over determining truth.

Let’s not mince words, this is state-sponsored arrogance disguised as justice. Rather than serving their intended purpose of protecting the public and ensuring professional integrity, entities like medical boards and/or the DOJ exploit their authority to accuse without cause and investigate without discretion. This abusive practice transforms innocent professionals into de facto defendants, corroding the trust in these institutions and fostering a culture of fear and mistrust.

The ethical absurdity of such an approach speaks for itself. Imagine being accused of a crime solely to see if evidence can later justify the accusation. Sound unjust? That’s because it is. This abuse of power effectively weaponizes accusations, treating them not as tools for accountability but as instruments for overwhelming, discrediting, and destabilizing individuals who have no prior fault.

And what happens when the accusations are later found to be baseless? Nothing. There is rarely accountability for the accuser, no acknowledgment of fault by the system, and worst of all, no restitution for the accused. Physicians and professionals who have been through this ordeal are left to tally up the damage: lost time, tarnished reputations, emotional harm, and sometimes careers irrevocably derailed. The lack of reparation makes this abuse of power even more appalling and entrenches the system’s lack of accountability.

At its core, the behavior of these authorities constitutes a betrayal of their mandate. By abusing their platforms to accuse professionals without proper evidence, they fail to embody the integrity and fairness they demand from those they oversee. Instead of fostering a robust, ethical system, they feed into inefficiency, fear, and injustice, undermining the very individuals who keep critical sectors like health care operational.

This institutionalized abuse of power calls for systemic overhaul. Authorities like medical boards and the DOJ must be held to higher standards of transparency, accountability, and restraint. Accusations must be supported by verified evidence before they are made, and the burden of proof must stay with the accuser, not the accused. Similarly, these authorities must face consequences for misusing their power, and systems of restitution should be established to compensate professionals whose lives are disrupted by baseless claims.

Without such changes, the cycle will only continue, tarnishing careers, wasting time, and compromising public trust. Time is a finite, irreplaceable resource, and to unjustly steal it from professionals through abuse of authority is nothing less than an act of institutional robbery. Until authorities adopt ethical accountability and fairness, they will remain complicit in perpetuating harm under the guise of oversight, a betrayal that society cannot and should not tolerate.

Kayvan Haddadan is a physiatrist and pain management physician.