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Nov 27, 2006 7:02 pm US/Central
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Does The State Of Texas Discipline Doctors Enough?
by Ginger Allen
(CBS 11 News)
We trust them with our lives and assume that they are upstanding members of society, but doctors are only human. Some doctors have criminal records, some are recovering addicts, and some are even under investigation for sexually assaulting patients.
The Texas State Board of Medical Examiners has disciplined more than 600 Texas doctors in the last two years. Although the board has been scrutinized in the past for not being tough enough on Texas doctors who misbehave, the number of disciplinary actions is on the rise.
That is welcome news to Weatherford resident Alicia Guinn, who says she needed a plastic surgeon to repair a deformity. "I wanted to look normal. I wanted to feel normal," she says.
In 2001 Guinn turned to local surgeon Dr. Kevin Light to correct the deformity, but one year later she was suffering from severe infections, scarring and, eventually, she needed another surgery.
"Everybody puts their doctor on a pedestal. They are supposed to be brilliant. I just trusted him," Guinn said.
Guinn filed a lawsuit against Dr. Light, accusing him of negligence and practicing medicine while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Attorney Randy Moore represented Guinn in the case. "In our lawsuit, we alleged, that during the time she was treated, his care was potentially affected by his impairment."
Even though the case never went to court -- Dr. Light and Guinn reached a settlement, and the board sent Guinn a letter stating there was no evidence of a violation in her case.
Later that same year the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners disciplined Dr. Light for substance abuse. In 2003, Dr. Light was disciplined again for not showing up for drug tests. Two years later, state documents show Dr. Light repeatedly tested positive for alcohol and/or drugs.
The board suspended Dr. Light and put him out of practice for eight months. However, the board has not disciplined him in the past year. Dr. Light now works at the Texas Institute of Functional Medicines as a cosmetic surgeon and specialist in anti-aging medicine.
The institute's homepage welcomes Dr. Light as a new physician on staff. "We look forward to all of our patients benefiting from his unique experience and expertise," it reads.
Doctor Light did not return repeated CBS 11 News phone calls requesting a comment on his suspension by the board.
In 2005, the board disciplined more than 300 doctors, the most disciplinary actions for the board in a single year.
The board's executive director, Dr. Donald Patrick, says the record number of actions last year sent a message to the medical community in Texas. "Every doctor in Texas knows that they're subject to more accountability than ever before," he said.
So far this year the board has disciplined 335 doctors – most for quality of care issues. One Ft. Worth gynecologist performed a hysterectomy on a pregnant woman.
Sixteen doctors are under sanctions for alcohol or drugs.
Several have been disciplined for inappropriate conduct with patients. One physician was accused of conducting inappropriate genital exams on prison inmates.
A family practitioner was also cited for videotaping his 11-year-old daughter and her friend, who were dancing in the nude. Another doctor had a felony conviction for possessing child pornography and hiding a camera inside his exam room.
Dr. Patrick admits the board was too lenient in the past. He attributes today's tougher policies to more employees, more money, and more political support. "I think it's so much more than what was done in the past," he says. "Yes, we can improve, and, yes, we're going to continue to work to get better."
Guinn's attorney, Randy Moore, says there is still a long way to go. "I don't think the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners has been tough enough and I don't see any signs that they're doing much to change that. I just don't see the results."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)