Which of the following can lead to suspension or denial of an optometry license?

The conviction of a felony can lead to the suspension or denial of an optometry license because it reflects a serious breach of legal and ethical standards that govern the profession. Professional licensing boards, including those for optometry, hold licensees to high standards of behavior and integrity. A felony conviction indicates a significant lack of moral character and may imply that the individual poses a risk to the safety and wellbeing of patients, undermining the trust inherent in the patient-care professional relationship.

The presence of a felony conviction can lead to the perception that the individual may not adhere to the laws and regulations that protect public health and safety, which is a primary responsibility of licensed professionals. Therefore, licensure authorities frequently consider such convictions grounds for disciplinary actions, including license suspension or denial.

While failure to maintain records, inadequate patient communication, and misdiagnosing a condition may reflect poorly on a practitioner and could potentially lead to disciplinary action, they do not inherently carry the same weight as a felony conviction in the context of professional licensing, which is often reserved for actions that suggest a fundamental lack of the ethical or legal standards necessary for the practice of optometry.