THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS (2)

I’ve never had any faith in state medical boards. They are more interested in protecting doctors than in protecting the public from doctors who should not be permitted to practice medicine. Here is a good case in point.
　
Cindy George of the Houston Chronicle reports that a Houston doctor who prescribed thousands of drugs through pain management clinics had his medical license temporarily restricted this week by the Texas Medical Board. HIS LICENSE WAS NOT REVOKED, IT WAS MERELY RESTRICTED.
　
The medical board’s disciplinary panel investigation revealed that more than 21,000 controlled substance prescriptions were written with the doctor’s signature over a 19-month period from September 2008 through mid-April. The investigation also showed "large numbers of pre-signed prescriptions were issued" while he was out of the country. In addition, more than 900 prescriptions for 400-plus patients the doctor never treated personally were issued under his signature through a Houston ambulance company.
　
The doctor’s liar – oops, I mean lawyer – said his client "Never intended to break any laws and he might have been taken advantage of. The board's going to allow him to continue to practice medicine." What a crock of shit on both counts – the lying lawyer’s claim and the board’s action.
　
The restriction on his license prevents the doctor from prescribing any Schedule II drugs, which include oxycodone and morphine. All other prescribing is limited to one-time medications for 72 hours with no refills. He also cannot authorize refills of controlled substances, dangerous drugs or pain medications.
　
The medical board’s order restricting his license said that he "is a continuing threat to the public welfare and a real danger to the health of … patients or to the public." AND YET THEY ALLOWED THIS DOCTOR TO CONTINUE PRACTICING MEDICINE. A board spokeswoman said the restriction was a way "to take immediate action" in lieu of suspending his license. Another crock of shit!
　
This doctor and the doctors described in "That’s Where The Money Is" (6-1-10) are nothing more than dope dealers, pure and simple. They’re dealing dope for the money! They belong in prison, not on the streets. And there is no way that the Texas Medical Board can justify letting these crooks continue to practice medicine, any restrictions on their licenses notwithstanding.