Nurse practitioner censored for speaking publicly about dementia
December 08, 2025
Topeka, Kansas; December 08, 2025: Amy Siple has filed a petition for judicial review challenging the Kansas State Board of Nursing’s decision to punish her for speaking publicly about dementia treatment. After a flawed investigation, the Board sanctioned Siple simply because she advertised educational speaking events on her website during a brief lapse in her nursing license.
“Amy has appealed the punishment imposed against her by the Kansas nursing board for the ‘crime’ of educating the public about dementia,” Chris Barnewolt, attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation, said. “Amy didn’t impermissibly treat anyone while her license was lapsed, nor did she harm anyone; all she did was give speeches. The First Amendment protects the right of medical professionals to speak, and the Kansas nursing board cannot unconstitutionally restrict Amy’s right to free speech.”
For more than 20 years, Amy Siple has served the state of Kansas as a geriatric nurse practitioner with an impeccable record. During a period when she was caring for her seriously ill husband, her license briefly lapsed. As soon as she discovered the oversight, she renewed it, and it was approved within a week. Yet after an investigation, the Kansas State Board of Nursing concluded she had acted “unprofessionally”—even though all Amy had done during that brief lapse was advertise dementia-education speaking events, many of them outside of Kansas, and she truthfully listed her credentials on her website.
“What the nursing board has done here is outrageous—the government cannot punish people for simply giving speeches and advertising their credentials,” Caleb Trotter, senior attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation, said. “The government has effectively branded Amy with a Scarlet Letter by adding ‘unprofessional conduct’ to her record, even though she did not practice while her license was briefly lapsed.”
With the help of Pacific Legal Foundation, Amy is challenging the punishment that the Kansas Nursing Board is attempting to impose. The case is Amy Siple v. Kansas Nursing Board.
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About Pacific Legal Foundation
Pacific Legal Foundation is a national nonprofit law firm that defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. Since our founding in 1973, we challenge the government when it violates individual liberty and constitutional rights. With active cases in 34 states plus Washington, D.C., PLF represents clients in state and federal courts, with 18 wins of 20 cases litigated at the U.S. Supreme Court.