Medical Licensing Board v. Robertson

563 N.E.2d 168, 1990 Ind. App. LEXIS 1572, 1990 WL 193807
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 5, 1990
DocketNo. 50A04-8904-CV-138
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 563 N.E.2d 168 (Medical Licensing Board v. Robertson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Medical Licensing Board v. Robertson, 563 N.E.2d 168, 1990 Ind. App. LEXIS 1572, 1990 WL 193807 (Ind. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

MILLER, Presiding Judge.

On October 22,1987, the Attorney General filed a disciplinary complaint1 against James S. Robertson, M.D. of Plymouth, Indiana, before the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana (Board) and obtained an order placing Robertson on probation for 5 years with conditions.2

On April 5, 1988, the Administrative Law Judge issued his Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommended Order. The Board concluded that Robertson’s addiction to, abuse of, or severe dependency upon alcohol endangered the public by impairing his ability to practice safely. The Board ordered that Dr. Robertson’s license be placed on probation for five years and that, as one of several conditions of probation, Robertson enter into an aftercare contract with the Physician’s Assistance Program of the Indiana State Medical Association. The trial court vacated the decision of the Board. The Board appealed, raising several issues. We reverse because the trial court erred by finding that the Board’s decision was not supported by sub[170]*170stantial evidence and by substituting its own judgment for that of the Board.

FACTS

The evidence indicates that Dr. Robertson did not drink while on call or at the office. However, Dr. Robertson acknowledged that he drank to excess. On two occasions Dr. Robertson went to the hospital to treat patients even though his breath smelled of alcohol and his speech was impaired. The second incident on March 3, 1986, involved Robertson’s treatment of an elderly male patient who had left his nursing home with a temperature of less than 94 degrees. At the time Dr. Robertson examined the patient, the patient’s temperature had risen to 95.8 degrees. Dr. Robertson ordered the patient’s release at that point. A nurse, Lori Boggs, contacted the hospital administrator because she felt the patient was in danger. The administrator contacted the president of the medical staff who ordered that the patient remain in the hospital until his temperature reached 98 degrees.

Dr. James Daniel Kubley, Dr. Robertson’s nephew by marriage and a member of the group of physicians with whom Robertson practiced, organized an intervention to address Robertson’s excessive use of alcohol. Robertson and Kubley were having differences regarding family matters and office management. As a result of this intervention, Dr. Robertson went to Smyrna, Georgia and checked into the Ridge-view Institute. Robertson checked out of the Institute prior to the completion of the program (after 21 days), though his sponsor physician recommended that he stay. Robertson had not had a drink since July of 1987, but he acknowledged he had a problem.

The Board affirmed the Administrative Law Judge’s Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommended Order which read, in pertinent part, as follows:

FINDINGS OF FACT
1.Respondent currently possesses a valid license to practice medicine in the State, that being license no. 01015271.
2. Notice of these proceedings were properly sent to and received by the Respondent pursuant to IC 4-21.5-1 et seq.
3. In or around 1985 Respondent sought the consultation of Dr. Jon Kub-ley for treatment of a hospitalized patient. Upon his arrival at the hospital to treat this patient, Respondent had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and was speaking with slurred speech.
4. On or about March 3, 1986, Respondent appeared in the emergency room of Holy Cross Parkview to care for a patient. Respondent’s face was flushed; he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and was speaking in a loud voice.
5. Respondent treated the elderly patient and ordered his release from the hospital despite the fact that the patient’s body temperature was 95.8 degrees at the time of release. This order to release was subsequently overturned by the President of the medical staff who ordered that the patient remain in the Emergency Room until his temperature had elevated to 98 degrees.
6. The Respondent was the subject of an intervention to address his excessive use of alcohol in July of 1987. Following this intervention, which included family members and professional associates, Respondent went to Smyrna, Georgia and checked into the Ridgeview Institute. However, despite urgings by his sponsor physician to stay and complete the program, the Respondent left the recovery program at the expiration of twenty-one (21) days.
7. Although he has not consumed any alcohol since July of 1987, Respondent has acknowledged that he has a problem with alcohol and has drunk to excess.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. The Board has jurisdiction to hear this case and to take disciplinary action against the Respondent.
2. The conduct of the Respondent constitutes violation of IC 25-22.5-6-2.-1(b)(4)(D) to wit:
[171]*171(b) A practitioner shall conduct the practitioner’s practice in accordance with the standards established by the board under IC 25-22.5-2-7 and is subject to the exercise of the disciplinary sanctions under subsection (e) if, after a hearing, the board finds:
(D) addiction to, abuse of, or severe dependency upon alcohol or other drugs which endangers the public by impairing a practitioner’s ability to practice safely;
RECOMMENDED ORDER
Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Administrative Law Judge now recommends the following ORDER:
1. The license of the Respondent, John S. Robertson, M.D., license no. 01015271, is hereby placed on probation for a period of five (5) years.
2. The conditions of the probation shall be as follows:
A. Respondent shall appear before the Board, upon the Board’s request or notice which is to be given to the Respondent at least thirty (30) days prior to the date Respondent is to appear.
B. Respondent shall notify the Board of any change in his practice location and/or hospital privileges.
C. Respondent shall contact the Representative to the Indiana State Medical Association District B, Physicians Assistance Program and enter into an aftercare contract with this organization and shall attend weekly meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. Respondent shall cause quarterly reports regarding compliance with the aftercare contract and attendance at the AA meetings to be submitted to the Board on a quarterly basis.
3. Respondent shall pay the costs of this disciplinary proceeding in the amount of $500.00 by check or money order made payable to the Health Professions Bureau. These costs to be submitted within thirty (30) days from receipt of this Order.
4.Respondent acknowledges and understands that any violation of the terms and conditions set forth herein shall immediately subject Respondent to the summary suspension of his license without additional notice.

(R. 152-154).

The trial court vacated the order of the Board with the following Judgment:3

OPINION

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703 N.E.2d 147 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1998)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
563 N.E.2d 168, 1990 Ind. App. LEXIS 1572, 1990 WL 193807, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/medical-licensing-board-v-robertson-indctapp-1990.