DrugBuyers.Com: prescribed "year's supply of Ketamine" ?

Prescriptions for controlled substances are only good for six months.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030826/265838_1.html
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FAIR USE
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Medical Board Accusation Leads to Surrender of Los Angeles Physician's Medical License
Tuesday August 26, 1:04 pm ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 2003--Facing a formal Accusation of wrongdoing by the Medical Board of California, Los Angeles physician Matthew Walter Collins, M.D. has been ordered to surrender his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license was ordered on August 7, 2003 and becomes effective August 29, 2003.
The Medical Board accused Collins of violating Business and Professions Code section 2234 for engaging in conduct constituting general unprofessional conduct with regard to his care and treatment of 14 pediatric and adult patients. He is accused of prescribing medicines without medical indication, including Ketamine, a general anesthetic, as well as a number of narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics and amphetamines, such as Percocet, OxylR, Demerol, methadone, OxyContin, and Ritalin, Valium, Dexoxyn, DextroStat, Vicodin ES, and Tylenol #4.

Medical Board investigators felt that Collins was pushing drugs, pointing out the case of one patient, a possible drug abuser, who drove 60 miles and asked for a prescription for Ketamine for lower back pain. Collins prescribed a one-year supply of injectable Ketamine which was obviously inappropriate as injectable Ketamine is a rapid-acting general anesthetic that produces unconsciousness and hallucinations. It is used only in hospital and outpatient operative procedures and is supervised by surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists skilled in its use. Further, eight months later, Collins gave the same patient another year's supply of Ketamine. The Board performed an undercover investigation and followed with a search warrant which revealed additional patient records suggesting further improper prescribing, which led to the Accusation.

For the purpose of resolving the disciplinary action without the expense and uncertainty of further proceedings, Collins agreed that at a hearing, the Board could establish a factual basis for the charges in the Accusation and that those charges constituted cause for discipline. Therefore, he waived his right to contest and lost all rights and privileges as a physician in California. He may petition for reinstatement after two years from the effective date of this order.

The mission of the Medical Board is to protect healthcare consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied healthcare professions and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act.

If you have a question or complaint about the healthcare you are receiving, the Board encourages you to visit its Web site at www.medbd.ca.gov or for questions call the Consumer Information Line at (916) 263-2382, or with complaints call (800) 633-2322.

Contact:
Medical Board of California
Candis Cohen, 916-263-2394

Source: Medical Board of California

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