dailystar.com.lb on June 21, 2012 reported that the Lebanese doctor released earlier this week after being detained over the death of one of his patients said Thursday there was no evidence to indicate he had committed medical malpractice. “The report released by the Order [of Physicians] is very clear and it said nothing about medical malpractice,” Doctor Musa Abu Hamad, who was released on bail Wednesday, told a news conference. “If I was to commit any malpractice, we wouldn’t have seen big numbers of doctors coming to the Order [of Physicians],” he said. On Monday, hundreds of physicians held a strike aimed at pressuring the Mount Lebanon Prosecution Committee to release Abu Hamad until the probe into the death of Rita Zogheib and her fetus is completed. Following several hearing sessions with Abu Hamad and representatives of the Order of Physicians, the Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor ordered the precautionary detention of Abu Hamad.
↧
Lebanon: Released doctor speaks out at news conference
↧
USA: Nurse nabbed for forging client's checks
abc-7.com on June 21, 2012 reported that a home nursing care employee is accused of forging her elderly client's checks and cashing in at least four times. We found out how the woman was finally caught. At 77-years-old, Lloyd Young says he's is more disappointed than angry with the home health care aid he counted on. "This is terrible to say. Don't trust anyone anymore," he said. Charlotte County investigators arrested Young's "granny nanny" on Thursday – 23-year-old Morgan Musgrave - accusing her of forging checks trying to cash them at a Wells Fargo along Burnt Store Road. "She wanted me to write out another check. I didn't see it. I'm blind and I can't see," Young said.
↧
↧
USA: Surgeon's assistant pleads guilty to submitting fake bills
q13fox.com on June 21, 2012 reported that a man who worked as a surgeon's assistant and technologist and bilked five insurance companies of $461,000 pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree theft and six counts of second-degree theft on Thursday. Kenneth Welling, of Lake Forest Park and who owns the Shoreline-based Alpine Surgical Services, admitted to investigators that he intentionally filed false claims of work he had completed to get money from the insurance companies. From 2004 to 2011, Welling filed $4.1 million in bills to insurance companies for work he never performed, the Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner said.
↧
USA: Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances lands Central Texas physician behind bars for nearly six years
kxan.com on June 25, 2012 reported that a Central Texas physician whose son died of an accidental drug overdose has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison after had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Dr. David James Jacoby of Austin, a former emergency room doctor, could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in federal prison in the case that involved the death of his son. The body of 24-year-old Brandon Jacoby was discovered in December 2010 in the home he shared with his father. The son was on probation for a drug crime. Investigators say the doctor wrote unlawful prescriptions to people who knew his son and the scheme resulted in the death.
↧
Zimbabwe: Doctor sentenced to 15 years for rape
thezimbabwemail.com on June 27, 2012 reported that a Harare doctor, Alfred Mamsa, who has been convicted of drugging and raping a 21 year old university student, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Mamsa will however serve an effective 11 years in prison after Harare Regional Magistrate, Adonia Masawi suspended four years on condition that he will not commit a similar offence in the next five years. It is alleged that Dr Mamsa drugged the 21 year old female student before raping her.
↧
↧
USA: Doctor nabbed for driving under the influence, drug possession
thewesterlysun.com on June 29, 2012 reported that a local physician was arrested in New Hampshire and charged with driving under the influence, felony possession of a controlled drug and resisting arrest and escape. Dr. Jeffrey Feldman, 52, of Narragansett, an ear, nose and throat specialist at ENT Associates of Westerly, was arrested by New Hampshire State Police in Tilton, N.H. on June 16, according to the Nashua Telegraph’s online edition, which details the doctor’s arrest. Meanwhile, Feldman has found support among his colleagues at The Westerly Hospital, who issued a statement Friday.
↧
USA: Pharmacist held over several drug charges
5newsonline.com on June 27, 2012 reported that drug task force agents arrested pharmacist Dustin Blaine Brownfield on several drug charges Wednesday evening in Sebastian County. Officers say Brownfield is suspected of selling a potent form of hydroponic marijuana. He was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on charges of delivery of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Agents with the 21st and 12th Judicial Drug Task Force made the arrest after an undercover buy of marijuana from the pharmacist, Lt. Darrel Miner said. Brownfield’s house on Been Way was blocked off with crime-scene tape while task force agents obtained a search warrant for the house.
↧
USA: Doctor kicks his son in the face, arrested
wftv.com on July 01, 2012 reported that deputies say an Italian doctor has been arrested for kicking his son in the face at Epcot Saturday afternoon. 41-year-old Dario Napolitano allegedly kicked his 3-year-old son in the face as he sat in a stroller inside Epcot. According to arrest papers, witnesses saw Napolitano kick his son during a family arguement. Then, they said child began to scream in pain. “I wouldn’t kick my sons in the face, for anything,” said park guest, John Cissio.
↧
Singapore: Doctor accused of molesting nurse
news.asiaone.com on July 02, 2012 reported that a Sri Lankan doctor has been charged with molesting a nurse on three occasions. 36-year-old Senaka Liyanage allegedly touched the buttocks of the 26-year-old nurse inside an operating theatre in Changi General Hospital between 11am and noon on April 5. He is accused of touching her on a second occasion, and a third time at about 2pm. The doctor is a specialist working in the hospital's Anaesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care department. The accused is represented by Mr Daniel Atticus Xu, who has asked for a pre-trial conference. It has been scheduled for July 13.
↧
↧
USA: Doctor taken into custody for allegedly writing fraudulent prescriptions
wkyc.com on July 02, 2012 reported that Dr. David Walter Massie, 59, a medical doctor in Mansfield, was arrested Monday after being indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Oxycontin and/or Oxycodone, said U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach. Massie is scheduled to be arraigned Friday. According to his indictment, he allegedly wrote fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycontin and Oxycodone for patients, which the patients then filled and illegally distributed back to Massie for his own personal use, distribution and sale to others. Much of the activity took place between 2005 and 2007 but includes transactions in May 2012, when Massie sold Oxycontin and/or Oxycodone at the rate of $1 per milligram, according to the indictment.
↧
Canada: Eye specialist suspended for performing unnecessary procedures
cbc.ca on July 04, 2012 reported that a Bathurst eye specialist has been temporarily suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, pending the outcome of an investigation by the regulatory body. Dr. Tarek Youssef, an ophthalmologist, is accused of performing unnecessary procedures, including cataract surgeries, said college registrar Dr. Ed Schollenberg. "We have information from a number of sources," he said. The issue was first raised with the college some time last year, said Schollenberg. "We've been investigating this matter in various means for several months," he said. Youssef, 43, has been suspended from practising since June 5. He could not be reached on Wednesday for comment. His office telephone at 1794 Sunset Dr., just rings several times and then disconnects.
↧
United Kingdom: Doctor faces being barred for luring minor girls
falkirkherald.co.uk on July 05, 2012 reported that an evil doctor who tried to lure two little girls into his car faces being struck off. Leslie Mitchell (59) was jailed in September 2010 after committing the offence in Carronshore in January that year. This week, a tribunal decided his fitness was “impaired” following the conviction. Mitchell, who worked in the A&E department at the then Stirling Royal Infirmary, was locked up and placed on the sex offenders register after he admitted the breach of the peace with sexual overtones. He pled guilty to stopping the two girls, aged 10 and 11, in Webster Avenue, Carronshore, talking to them and asking if he could tickle their legs. He then attempted to entice them into this car. When he appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court, the case was remitted to the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing after Sheriff Craig Caldwell said his powers were limited and the doctor posed a “significant” risk, particularly to young girls.
↧
USA: Doctor faces charges of manslaughter in prescription drug overdose case
newsok.com on July 09, 2012 reported that a Craig County doctor was charged with second-degree manslaughter Monday in connection with the death of a nursing instructor who died from a prescription drug overdose. Dr. Mickey Ray Tyrrell, 39, of Vinita, surrendered to the Craig County Sheriff's Department in Vinita on Monday afternoon. He was released on $10,000 bail. Tyrrell, a general practitioner with Green Country Family Medicine in Vinita declined to comment on the allegations. His attorney, Robert Rush, said, “We think these charges are meritless.” Tyrrell is charged in Craig County District Court, accused of prescribing more than 630 50-mg Demerol painkiller pills to Tammy Dawn Daniels, 35, of Vinita, between July 7, 2009, and Sept. 2, 2009, records show. Daniels died Sept. 5, 2009, from acute combined drug toxicity from forms of the painkiller Demerol, according to the state medical examiner.
↧
↧
Ghana: Bogus doctor apprehended
dailyguideghana.com on July 09, 2012 reported that a 27-year-old man, Lord Adingo has been arrested by security personnel of the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital for posing as a medical doctor. Adingo reportedly roamed the streets of Sunyani and held himself as a medical doctor who studied at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. According to the taxi driver, who took him to the security personnel, he met the suspect on the evening of July 6, 2012 fully dressed like a medical doctor. He said the self-styled doctor told him he was a medical doctor at South Suntreso Hospital in Kumasi. The driver, who only gave his name as Asare, said the next morning he met the self-styled doctor dressed in his white dress, stressing that Adingo was going to work so he decided to give him a lift. During the ride, a conversation ensued between the two but the answers given by Adingo were unclear so he decided to hand him over to the security to prove his claims. Upon arrival at the hospital, they realized he had an identification card with the name Prof. Dr. Lord Adingo of Universal Hospital, South Africa.
↧
Canada: Chiropractor's license suspended for misconduct
vocm.com on July 10, 2012 reported that a well-known St. John's chiropractor has had his license suspended for three months due to what the Newfoundland and Labrador Chiropractic Board has deemed to be an inappropriate relationship with a patient. A Discipline Committee Panel found that Dr. Robert Burton fondled the breasts of an unnamed patient sometime between March 1st 2006 and January 1st 2007. In a published release, the panel concluded that there was evidence that Dr. Burton also kissed the patient. The panel determined that the relationship between the Chiropractor and patient extended beyond the professional realm, and consensual or otherwise, was inappropriate.
↧
USA: Navy doctor accused of writing and filling fraudulent prescriptions
washingtonexaminer.com on July 10, 2012 reported that a Navy doctor has been charged with writing and filling fraudulent prescriptions in other people's names at a Pentagon drug store, court papers show. Peter Pressman was arrested last week and faces a preliminary hearing Thursday in federal court in Jacksonville, Fla., on one charge of aggravated identity theft. Several employees of a Defense Department task force told naval investigators that Pressman wrote prescriptions for narcotics in their names and without their knowledge in 2010, according to charging documents filed in federal court in Alexandria. Most of the prescriptions were for narcotic pain killers and were filled at a CVS pharmacy at the Pentagon under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Pressman sent an email to one of those employees, identified only as P.B., last October apologizing for what he did, the court records show.
↧
United Kingdom: 55-yr-old nurse who told paralyzed patient to shut up, guilty of misconduct
bbc.co.uk on July 11, 2012 reported that a panel has ruled a nurse's actions in telling a paralysed patient to shut up or she would call his family and put him out in the car park was misconduct. But Caroline Gervaise-Brazier was cleared of advising colleagues not to rush to revive a patient if needed. The 55-year-old of Trecenydd, Caerphilly, was cleared of two further misconduct charges, but admitted one of removing sheets from Rookwood Hospital. The Nursing and Midwifery Council panel will decide if sanctions are needed. Miss Gervaise-Brazier was dismissed from her job on a spinal unit ward at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff after the incidents.
↧
↧
USA: Doctor indicted for drug trafficking
northwestohio.com on July 11, 2012 reported that a local doctor has been indicted on more than 2 dozen counts of drug trafficking. On Wednesday, a Seneca County grand jury handed down the 30 count indictment against 55-year-old Samuel J. Christian, MD of Tiffin. The indictment includes 24 counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, 5 counts of trafficking in drugs and 1 count of a methadone treatment license violation. All of the alleged crimes are felonies.
↧
USA: Doctor arrested for selling prescription drugs for cash
ktla.com on July 12, 2012 reported that police arrested a doctor suspected of prescribing addictive medication to patients who didn't need it and pocketing the money. Glendora Police served two search warrants to Dr. Rolando Lodevico Atiga Thursday. According to Captain Tim Staab, for the past two months, 69-year-old Atiga had been prescribing highly addictive drugs such as oxycodone, vicodin, xanax and percocet to patients for $200 to $400 in cash, reported the Glendora Patch.
↧
USA: 39-yr-old doctor accused of prescription fraud
abc15.com on July 12, 2012 reported that a Prescott doctor has been arrested for allegedly prescribing narcotic medications for non-medical related reasons. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that 39-year-old Randy Joe Spicer was under investigation for violations including his agreement to profit from medications he knowingly prescribed for resale on the streets. Authorities said Spicer was recently arrested and booked into jail for an unrelated criminal investigation and released on bond. Spicer has continued to used his medical practice to prescribe medication for non-medical related reasons, authorities said.
↧