Stephen Dubner

You cite many examples of professionals who face discipline from their licensing board, but then they encounter, as you put it, a system full of second, third, and even fifth chances. And you write that a lot of these regulatory failures come from the most legitimate professions, you call them, like medicine. Talk about the Michael LaPaglia story.

His license was ultimately revoked, yes?

His license was ultimately revoked, yes?

His license was ultimately revoked, yes?

Would the revocation have happened if not for the federal criminal charge?

Would the revocation have happened if not for the federal criminal charge?

Would the revocation have happened if not for the federal criminal charge?

And how did the story become so public?

And how did the story become so public?

And how did the story become so public?

In a case like that, how much evidence does a board have or seek out? They're essentially acting as a court, but in an actual court, the judge and the prosecutors have a lot more opportunity, it seems, to gather evidence than these licensing boards do. Or maybe not more opportunity, but maybe more incentive, I hate to say.

In a case like that, how much evidence does a board have or seek out? They're essentially acting as a court, but in an actual court, the judge and the prosecutors have a lot more opportunity, it seems, to gather evidence than these licensing boards do. Or maybe not more opportunity, but maybe more incentive, I hate to say.

In a case like that, how much evidence does a board have or seek out? They're essentially acting as a court, but in an actual court, the judge and the prosecutors have a lot more opportunity, it seems, to gather evidence than these licensing boards do. Or maybe not more opportunity, but maybe more incentive, I hate to say.

Resources meaning this is typically a volunteer board where they don't have all these investigators going out to look through all these files and talk to witnesses and so on, yes?

Resources meaning this is typically a volunteer board where they don't have all these investigators going out to look through all these files and talk to witnesses and so on, yes?

Resources meaning this is typically a volunteer board where they don't have all these investigators going out to look through all these files and talk to witnesses and so on, yes?

What happens when misconduct is bad enough that the criminal justice system gets involved? What do the licensing boards do then? Do they feel chastised? Are they themselves ever subject to penalty?

What happens when misconduct is bad enough that the criminal justice system gets involved? What do the licensing boards do then? Do they feel chastised? Are they themselves ever subject to penalty?

What happens when misconduct is bad enough that the criminal justice system gets involved? What do the licensing boards do then? Do they feel chastised? Are they themselves ever subject to penalty?

Who else can prescribe in Tennessee?