Every few months, the Texas Medical Board reviews a stack of complaints from patients, hospitals, colleagues, and insurers, and rules on the disciplinary actions that should be taken. These are the North Texas actions, from the board’s February meeting:
– The Board and Joseph D. King, M.D., entered into a Mediated Agreed Order requiring the Grapevine doctor to surrender his registration to perform office-based anesthesia and waive his right to seek registration for office-based anesthesia in the future; obtain a board certified anesthesiologist who specializes in pediatric anesthesiology to serve as his proctor; within one year complete the Clinical Competence Assessment, including Phase I and Phase II, offered by the University of California San Diego Physician Assessment and Clinical Education program; within 18 months successfully complete any and all retraining, remedial measures, and/or other recommendations made by PACE; within one year complete at least 16 hours of CME, divided as follows: eight hours in risk management and eight hours in medical recordkeeping. The Board found Dr. King failed to maintain adequate medical records and to meet the standard of care in his treatment of a high-risk minor patient. This order resolves a formal complaint filed at the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
– The Board entered a Default Order against Samuel Clark Hoover, D.O., which revoked his Texas medical license. On June 3, 2013, the Board filed a complaint with the State Office of Administrative Hearings in Docket No. 503-13-4659. The Complaint alleged the Euless D.O. violated the terms of his 2012 Order. On January 3, 2014, a hearing was held before SOAH. Dr. Hoover failed to appear at the hearing, and the case was dismissed and returned to the Board for resolution through its default proceedings. Service of notice of the proceeding was properly made by publication. Dr. Hoover failed to appear at the February 7, 2014 proceeding before the Board. As a result, the Board granted a Determination of Default, and Dr. Hoover’s Texas medical license was revoked by Default Order.
– The Board approved a Final Order revoking Lorenzo Spratt, M.D.’s Texas medical license and requiring the Cedar Hill doctor to immediately cease practice in Texas. The Board found Dr. Spratt was unable to practice medicine safely due to substance abuse in an intemperate manner that could endanger the lives of patients. The action was based on the findings of an administrative law judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings. This order resolves a formal complaint filed at the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
– The Board and Tad William Taylor, M.D., entered into an Agreed Order of Suspension, suspending the Richardson doctor’s Texas medical license effective March 24, 2014, until he requests in writing to have the suspension stayed or lifted and personally appears before the Board, and provides clear evidence that he is physically, mentally, and otherwise competent to safely practice medicine. The Board found Dr. Taylor is currently under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Justice for allegations related to prescribing medications without a legitimate medical purpose. The criminal investigation is ongoing with no estimated time of completion.
– The Board and Phillip R. Kravetz, M.D., entered into an Agreed Order requiring the Dallas doctor to within one year complete at least 16 hours of CME, divided as follows: eight hours in risk management and eight hours in ethics; and pay an administrative penalty of $3,000 within 60 days. The Board found Dr. Kravetz was suspended by the St. Vincent Health Care System in Little Rock, Arkansas for failing to have suitable coverage in his absence from the facility.
– The Board and John Carl Ferrell, M.D., entered into an Agreed Order Modifying Prior Order, modifying the Frisco doctor’s 2012 Order. The modification requires Dr. Ferrell to have his practice monitored by another physician for eight consecutive monitoring cycles; within one year complete at least eight hours of CME in medical recordkeeping; and pay an administrative penalty of $3,000 within 60 days. The Board found Dr. Ferrell violated his prior order by failing to timely submit his charts for review as required and failed to incorporate some of the changes regarding documentation recommended by the chart reviewer.
– The Board and Gregory Skie, M.D., entered into an Agreed Order requiring the Arlington doctor to within one year and three attempts pass the Medical Jurisprudence Exam; within one year complete at least four hours of CME in medical ethics; and pay an administrative penalty of $2,000 within 60 days. The Board found Dr. Skie charged for and dispensed drugs to several patients, including testosterone-based creams, from his office in quantities greater than necessary to meet the patients’ immediate needs.
– The Board and Adila N. Siddiqi, D.O., entered into a Mediated Agreed Order requiring the Grand Prairie D.O. to have his practice monitored by another physician for four consecutive monitoring cycles; and within 180 days complete the medical records course offered by the University of California San Diego Physician Assessment and Clinical Education program. The Board found Dr. Siddiqi with respect to five patients failed to adequately document the rationale that connected the diagnoses to the treatment decision/plan. This order resolves a formal complaint filed at the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
– The Board and Ashley L. Sizer entered into an Agreed Order requiring the Fort Worth tech to within 30 days submit to an evaluation by the Texas Physician Health Program and follow all recommendations for care and treatment. The Board found Ms. Sizer admitted previous substance abuse issues involving alcohol that required hospitalization.
– The Board entered a Cease and Desist Order regarding Joseph A. DiRuzzo, requiring the Plano man to immediately cease and desist any unlicensed practice of medicine in the state of Texas and refrain from acting as, or holding himself out to be, a licensed physician in the state of Texas. The Board found Mr. DiRuzzo has engaged in the unlicensed practice of medicine by operating a website and Amazon.com listing which uses the title “Doctor” as a trade or professional asset without designating the healing art Mr. DiRuzzo is licensed to practice or designating the authority under which the title is used. Mr. DiRuzzo also failed to provide disclosures required by the Healing Arts Identification Act when he identified himself as “Dr. Joseph DiRuzzo” on his website.
