Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Arthritis Medical Center, Inc.

32 Fla. Supp. 2d 197
CourtState of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings
DecidedAugust 30, 1988
DocketCase No. 88-1459
StatusPublished

This text of 32 Fla. Supp. 2d 197 (Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Arthritis Medical Center, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering State of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Arthritis Medical Center, Inc., 32 Fla. Supp. 2d 197 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1988).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

DONALD R. ALEXANDER, Hearing Officer.

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Pursuant to notice, the above matter was heard before the Division of Administrative Hearings by its duly designated Hearing Officer, Donald R. Alexander, on July 25, 1988, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

BACKGROUND

By administrative complaint, petitioner, Department of Health and [198]*198Rehabilitative Services, sought to impose a $10,000 administrative fine on respondent, Arthritis Medical Center, Inc., for failing to allow HRS to inspect its premises on two occasions.1 The purpose of the inspections was to determine whether respondent was complying with Chapter 499, Florida Statutes (1987), and Chapter 10D-45, Florida Administrative Code (1987), and particularly whether adulterated, misbranded or unsanitary drugs were on the premises.

Respondent did not dispute the above allegations but contended it was not licensed by HRS and that the statute and rule which authorized such inspections were unconstitutional. The matter was referred by petitioner to the Division of Administrative Hearings on March 30, 1988, with a request that a hearing officer be assigned to conduct a formal hearing. By notice of hearing dated May 12, 1988, the final hearing was scheduled on July 25, 1988 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On July 22, 1988 the case was transferred from Hearing Officer William J. Kendrick to the undersigned.

At final hearing, petitioner presented the testimony of Richard R. Grant, administrator for HRS’ pharmacy services program, and Greg Jones and Robert A. Loudis, both HRS regional drug inspectors. It also offered petitioner’s exhibits 1-6. All exhibits were received in evidence except exhibits 2 and 3. Respondent offered respondent’s exhibit 1 which was received in evidence.

The transcript of hearing was filed on August 15, 1988. Proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law were filed by petitioner and respondent on August 22 and 23, 2988, respectively. A ruling on each proposed finding is made in the Appendix attached to this Recommended Order.

The issue is whether respondent should pay a $10,000 administrative fine for refusing to allow HRS inspectors on its premises.

Based upon all of the evidence, the following findings of fact are determined:

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. At all times relevant hereto, respondent, Arthritis Medical Center, Inc. (AMC) operated a facility at 901 Southeast 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. According to its business card, AMC provides a “Hormone Balance Treatment” to patients suffering from arthritis and uses a “medication” that “combines three separate hormones — [199]*199glucocorticoid and the male and female sex hormones.” the card represents that AMC collaborates with a “medical staff’ and that its registered nurse administrator was one Donna Pinorsky.2 The card reflects also that AMC has a facility at 2025 Broadway, #19D, New York City. The parties have stipulated that respondent holds no licenses or permits from any state regulatory agency. Further, it has no pending application for any permit.

2. Petitioner, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS), is charged with the responsibility of protecting the public health, regarding commerce of drugs, devices and cosmetics, through its pharmacy services program, HRS issues permits, to those persons or establishments, and other pharmacies, who provide or sell legend drugs, devices or cosmetics to the public. Also, the agency inspects both permitted and unpermitted facilities that hold drugs, devices or cosmetics to ensure that adulterated,, misbranded or unsanitary drugs are not dispensed to the public. To this end, HRS employs licensed pharmacists who make random, unannounced inspections of such facilities. This case arises out of two unsuccessful efforts by HRS inspectors to inspect respondent’s facility. The inspections were prompted by HRS’ receipt of a letter from the Department of Professional Regulation. The contents of the letter were not disclosed.

3. On the afternoon of January 16, 1987, HRS inspectors Jones, Loudis and White, all licensed pharmacists, visited AMC’s facility in Fort Lauderdale for the purpose of inspecting any legend drugs, devices or cosmetics that might be on the premises. They were met by Pinorsky, the facility’s administrator. After identifying themselves, Pinorsky picked up a hand held tape recorder and began taping the conversation. Pinorsky first acknowledged that a “Doctor Kline,” whose sign was on the outside of the building, had offices at the facility but was not present. She also gave the inspectors an AMC business card which contained the information set forth in finding of fact 1. When the inspectors asked if any hormones were kept on the premises, Pinorsky responded by asking if the inspectors had a subpoena. After being told there was none, she read the inspectors the following statement:

On advice of counsel, under the United States Supreme (Court) decision See’s vs City of Seattle, Washington, I must decline to allow a search without a search warrant signed by a Judicial officer. And, if such warrant has been issued on advice of counsel I decline to [200]*200consent to a search until a Court has ruled on a motion to quash under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.
My local attorney is
Larry Altman
P.O. Box 402404 Miami Beach, FL 33140
My general counsel is
John Burgess
2000 Powell St. Suite 1680 Emoryville, CA 94608

The inspection ended at that point.

4. Around 4.T5 p.m. on March 13, 1987 Jones and Loudis returned to AMC’s place of business for the purpose of conducting an inspection. They were met by one Kathy Bentley, a secretary, who was told the purpose of the visit. Bentley would not allow the inspection to be made because the “nurse” \vas not present. Pinorsky then entered the room carrying a “toddler.” After putting the child down, Pinorsky immediately set up a tape recorder and began recording the conversation. After identifying themselves, the inspectors requested they be permitted to inspect the facility to ensure compliance with Chapter 499, Florida Statutes. Pinorsky denied their request saying there was ongoing “litigation” over their right to inspect the facility. The inspection ended at that point.

5. Based upon two unsuccessful efforts to inspect AMC’s facility, an administrative complaint was issued by HRS in January, 1988. The complaint is the second administrative action taken against respondent. The first culminated in a Final Order issued on October 22, 1986 imposing a $500 fine on respondent for refusing to allow inspectors to inspect its facility on April 30, 1986.

6. The inspectors had no search warrants to inspect AMC’s facility nor had there been any finding of probable cause by a judge or magistrate that a statutory violation may have taken place on AMC’s premises. Also, the inspectors did not know the precise nature of respondent’s business or whether any drugs were actually kept on the premises. Indeed, Pinorsky never admitted that any were kept at the facility. The inspectors estimated that approximately forty percent of all inspections are on nonpermitted facilities.

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32 Fla. Supp. 2d 197, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/department-of-health-rehabilitative-services-v-arthritis-medical-center-fladivadminhrg-1988.