JDM -
This is only kind of true. If a shop gets busted (i.e. a clinic) you or may not have a flag on your background checks for government work. Generally speaking these checks are much more through than standard background checks. If you get a state card (such as is offered here in California) you will certainly go on a 'list' to keep you off the payrolls of any state or federal agency. A work-around is to get a recommendation from a low-key physician and avoid the club cards.

Using a recommendation retroactively is about vacating a charge. This has been accomplished by some people successfully, but may not be convenient, such as trying to get a recommendation from jail. It is also likely to be expensive and difficult.

Specifically I am speaking about government background checks, such as those that teachers or contractors go through. For example I have a friend who shoplifted when they were 17, the charge came off her record, but when she became a credentialed teacher at age 30 she was asked about it. Typical background checks would not show this, but a school district did. It did not prevent her from getting the job - but they had the discretion to do what they wanted to do with the information. I am merely saying... make a note of it! You may wish now that you had a card, but these things tend to be taken very seriously by the authorities, and can alter the course of your life. I, for one, would not like to see a potential excellent teacher, for example, be unable to take this career course because of this issue.

Anyone to tell you differently, in my opinion, is woefully ignorant or in denial of serious issues and should be ignored.