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Is it Enough to Suspend a Virgninia Beach Doctor's License?

By Ben Glass

<p>In its report on Virginia Beach's Dr. Stephen Plotnick, the Virginia Board of Medicine relates the cases of Patients A through U, a litany of medical misery. Plotnick was a specialist in pain treatment, which he would typically do so with potent drugs that have a potential for abuse and addiction.<br /> <br /> In the legal order between Plotnick and the Board, the board's findings are laid out. Plotnick would refill patients' prescriptions without an examination and in some cases would fail to insist upon protections that come standard with such drugs. He would allow some patients to 'guide their own medication' selection, often prescribing them more than one drug and allowing them to decide which drug to take and how much of it to take. In several cases, he would continue to provide patients with drugs, despite patients, their families, and other doctors complaining of overmedication or problems with the medication. The board described the deaths of five patients caused by overdoses or toxic concentrations of drugs Plotnick prescribed.<br /> <br /> Plotnick received a fairly light punishment for his actions. He received a 24-month license suspension, at the end of which he could petition for reinstatement.<br /> <br /> The case is similar to that of the 2005 case of Newport News physician James Shegog. He received a 16-month license suspension, despite the chilling words used by the Board to describe his care of two dozen patients, nine of which who died. 'Grossly careless,' 'negligent,' 'grossly negligent and harmful,' and 'a danger to the health and welfare of patients,' were some of the descriptions the board used.<br /> <br /> The board kept Shegog on its radar for a period of nine years, during which several patients died. The cause was typically powerful pain medications. As with Plotnick, Shegog retained the right to petition to have his license reinstated. For now, he teaches anatomy and physiology at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton.<br /> <br /> In the cases of Plotnick, Shegog, and other doctors who have had their licenses suspended, the public received a respite, but there is no guarantee of it lasting. It is rare that Virginia permanently banishes doctors, and when it does, it is only with the doctor's consent. The state allows doctors who have received disciplinary action petition to have their licenses reinstated, often welcoming them back. In recent years, such doctors have included felons, child sexual abusers, addicts, and doctors with horrifying records.<br /> <br /> Not surprisingly, in a continuing assessment of the policing of bad doctors among states, Virginia is ranked 39th. The number of serious actions taken against doctors in the state ranks well below the national average. This means that either Virginia doctors are better, or the state is much worse at taking action against them, which evidence shows is far more likely.</p><a href="http://northernvirginia.injuryboard.com/medical-malpractice/is-it-enough-to-suspend-a-doctors-license.aspx?googleid=261438">Originally posted</a> at <a href="http://www.InjuryBoard.com">InjuryBoard</a> by <a href="http://www.injuryboard.com/Ben-Glass/">Ben Glass</a>

Full post as published by Northern Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer on May 26, 2009 (boomark / email).