Bigelsen v. Arizona State Board of Medical Examiners

853 P.2d 1133, 175 Ariz. 86, 139 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 59, 1993 Ariz. App. LEXIS 99
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedMay 27, 1993
Docket1 CA-CV 91-0201
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 853 P.2d 1133 (Bigelsen v. Arizona State Board of Medical Examiners) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bigelsen v. Arizona State Board of Medical Examiners, 853 P.2d 1133, 175 Ariz. 86, 139 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 59, 1993 Ariz. App. LEXIS 99 (Ark. Ct. App. 1993).

Opinion

OPINION

TOCI, Presiding Judge.

This appeal requires us to clarify the application of the statutory scheme for discipline of physicians who are licensed by both the Arizona Board of Medical Examiners (“BOMEX”) and the Arizona Board of Homeopathic Examiners (“Homeopathic Board”). Specifically, we must decide whether Ariz.Rev.Stat.Ann. (“A.R.S.”) sections 32-1407 and 32-2907 bar BOMEX from investigating and taking disciplinary action against Harvey Bigelsen, M.D., a dual-licensed physician, when the Homeopathic Board has already investigated and dismissed the same complaints.

We hold that because the trial court found that both boards agreed that the Homeopathic Board would investigate the two complaints, BOMEX may take disciplinary action against Dr. Bigelsen, but it must base such action solely on a review of the Homeopathic Board’s investigative materials, findings, and conclusions. BOMEX may not conduct a de novo review of the issues raised in the complaints and subject Dr. Bigelsen to a second, independent investigation and hearing. Therefore, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Dr. Bigelsen is licensed by both BOMEX as a medical doctor and by the Homeopathic Board as a homeopathic physician. In August 1988, a life and health insurer filed a complaint with BOMEX against Dr. Bigelsen. That complaint alleged that Dr. Bigelsen charged a patient, K.H., 1 for medical services which were not documented by his records. BOMEX informed Dr. Bigel-sen of the complaint and asked him to respond.

*88 After receiving Dr. Bigelsen’s response, BOMEX sent it and the complaint to the Homeopathic Board and informed the Homeopathic Board:

Our normal process is to assign this matter to one of our staff medical consultants to prepare a report to be considered by the full Board at a later time.
[We] would appreciate your review of the entire matter and comments as to whether you feel the Board of Medical Examiners can or should proceed with its review, or if you feel the matter involves Homeopathic practices, which would more appropriately fall under the Homeopathic Board.

The Homeopathic Board responded stating, it was “the opinion of [the Homeopathic Board] that this matter involves Dr. Bigel-sen’s homeopathic practice and should be investigated by this Board. We will inform your agency as to our findings.”

The Homeopathic Board investigated the complaint against Dr. Bigelsen, found evidence that substantiated the delivery of services to K.H, and voted to dismiss the allegations. It then submitted its findings to BOMEX. After reviewing these findings, however, BOMEX requested that the Homeopathic Board determine whether reopening of the complaint was warranted and asked if the Homeopathic Board would object to an independent review by BO-MEX. The Homeopathic Board declined to reopen the complaint, but it did not object to an independent review by BOMEX.

In April 1989, a medical doctor also filed a complaint against Dr. Bigelsen with BO-MEX. The complainant was an allopathic physician from whom M.A.L., a patient of Dr. Bigelsen, had sought a second opinion. The complaint alleged that Dr. Bigelsen incorrectly advised M.A.L. that she had an abnormal liver, inappropriately gave her weekly magnetic field treatments at $75 per visit, inappropriately prescribed thyroid medication, and sent only lab reports without physician’s notes when the complainant requested M.A.L.’s records. BOMEX also informed Dr. Bigelsen of this second complaint and asked him to respond to it.

BOMEX sent Dr. Bigelsen’s response and second complaint to the Homeopathic Board. The Homeopathic Board believed that it had primary jurisdiction over this second complaint because Dr. Bigelsen had fully informed M.A.L. that he would use homeopathic methods and techniques in her evaluation and care. It investigated the complaint, concluded that Dr. Bigelsen rendered appropriate care, and sent its findings to BOMEX.

BOMEX reviewed the findings and decided to conduct its own investigation of the two complaints. It asked Dr. Bigelsen to appear at an informal interview to discuss his care and treatment of K.H. and M.A.L., his billings for those patients, and the adequacy of his patient records. It informed Dr. Bigelsen that the interview could result in disciplinary action. Although Dr. Bigel-sen objected to the BOMEX proceedings, he attended the interview.

After the interview, BOMEX found that Dr. Bigelsen (1) failed to keep legible treatment notes that reflected the nature and extent of treatment provided to K.H., (2) did not advise K.H. that certain treatment was experimental, and (3) prescribed to M.A.L. Carbarsone, an organic arsenical compound not in general use for treatment of intestinal amoeba and an inappropriate drug for the treatment of a liver problem. It also found that Dr. Bigelsen’s belief that an allopathic physician would not understand his notes did not justify sending only laboratory reports without physician notes to M.A.L.’s second physician.

BOMEX concluded that the inadequate treatment notes and failure to obtain patient consent for use of an experimental treatment violated a previous stipulation and order between it and Dr. Bigelsen. 2 BOMEX also concluded that Dr. Bigelsen’s prescription of Carbarsone violated A.R.S. section 32-1401(19)(q) (conduct which is or might be harmful or dangerous to the health of the patient or the public) and that *89 his refusal to send his patient notes to M.A.L.’s other physician violated A.R.S. section 32-1401(19)(e) (failing to maintain adequate records or to make records promptly available to another physician upon request). Accordingly, BOMEX censured Dr. Bigelsen and imposed an administrative penalty of $1,000.

Dr. Bigelsen asked BOMEX to reconsider and set aside its findings, conclusions, and decree of censure. After learning that K.H. had signed a consent to experimental treatment, BOMEX vacated its finding and conclusion as to the experimental treatment. Nevertheless, it did not change its order or other findings and conclusions.

Dr. Bigelsen filed a complaint against BOMEX in the superior court asking the court to reverse or modify the BOMEX decision. Ruling in favor of Dr. Bigelsen, the trial court found that “when [the Homeopathic Board] absolved Dr. Bigelsen of any unprofessional conduct on the two separate [c]omplaints in question, BOMEX became bound by those conclusions,” and thus BOMEX lacked jurisdiction to investigate and discipline Dr. Bigelsen. The court vacated BOMEX’s findings of fact, conclusions of law, and censure and fine against Dr. Bigelsen. It also awarded attorneys’ fees and costs to Dr. Bigelsen pursuant to A.R.S. sections 12-348(A)(3), (C), (E), and (H).

When the trial court denied its motion for a new trial, BOMEX filed a timely appeal. We have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. section 12-913.

DISCUSSION

We hold that the trial court did not err in finding that both BOMEX and the Homeopathic Board agreed to have the latter investigate the complaints against Dr. Bigel-sen.

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Bluebook (online)
853 P.2d 1133, 175 Ariz. 86, 139 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 59, 1993 Ariz. App. LEXIS 99, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bigelsen-v-arizona-state-board-of-medical-examiners-arizctapp-1993.