Judge Denies Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction in Nepali Doctors’ USMLE Score Cancellation Case

In a hearing today at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Judge Christopher Cooper rejected the Nepali doctors’ request for a preliminary injunction to halt the cancellation of their USMLE scores. The score cancellations will remain in effect for now, although the case is still ongoing.

Both sides presented their arguments in Courtroom 27A before Judge Cooper. The doctors’ motion for a preliminary injunction, aimed at immediately restoring their scores’ validity, was denied. The judge also reserved his decision on the motion to certify the case as a class action lawsuit, representing all affected doctors.

Judge Cooper will issue a written opinion and order explaining his decisions in detail. The class action certification question remains open until his ruling is released.

Affected Nepali doctors are disappointed by the denial of the emergency motion, as it leaves their scores invalid for the time being. All parties await the judge’s written opinion and order for further clarity on the case’s future.

NBME’s Arguments and Doctor’s Response

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) had submitted a 57-page document explaining their justification for canceling the doctor’s score, along with a 14-page rebuttal to the class-action lawsuit and a 43-page response opposing the preliminary injunction request.

The affected Nepali doctor submitted a 28-page response on Monday, February 19th, meeting the 5:00 PM deadline by an hour and a half. The case was assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper on February 14th.

The lawsuit stems from the NBME’s decision around January 31st, 2024, to cancel the scores of several individuals, including the involved doctor. This action placed many Nepali doctors in a precarious situation, forcing them to consider retaking the exam, appealing the decision, or facing potential immigration issues due to revoked residencies.