Board accepts suspension of Evansville pain clinic physician

5

Greg Zoeller

State’s petition alleges Crowley not present for writing of 513 prescriptions

INDIANAPOLIS –The Indiana Medical Licensing Board accepted an agreement to summarily suspend the medical license of an Evansville-area pain clinic physician, following the State’s filing a petition alleging that the doctor has engaged in dangerous prescribing practices and has allowed non-qualified individuals to issue prescriptions under her name.

Dr. Diane Crowley of Holland, Ind., agreed to the summary suspension of her medical license sought by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. The Medical Licensing Board voted Thursday night to accept the summary suspension agreement which will be in effect for 90 days. At a later hearing, the Attorney General’s Office would have the opportunity to present the State’s evidence against Crowley.

The State’s petition, filed February 26, notes that Dr. Crowley is employed at Med 1st, a pain management facility in Evansville. The investigation determined that Crowley was herself hospitalized and not in the office to write prescriptions on dates where a total 513 prescriptions were issued to patients under her name. The petition alleges that Crowley pre-signed blank prescription forms using her DEA registration number, and then the prescription orders were filled in by other individuals, including chiropractors and other workers not allowed to prescribe controlled substances.

The State’s petition also alleges that Dr. Crowley has administered “facet block injections” to patients at the Med 1st clinic despite not having the appropriate education, training or experience to perform such intricate interventional procedures. The State’s petition alleges Crowley has failed to use the appropriate standard of care.

“This physician would present a clear and immediate danger to public health and safety if allowed to practice, and so it is imperative that the public be protected in the meantime with a suspension order until a disciplinary licensing hearing can be scheduled,” Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said. The Attorney General’s Health Licensing Division brings licensing petitions to the Medical Licensing Board, which would decide what disciplinary action to impose against the physician’s license, if any.

The disciplinary licensing petition filed by the Attorney General’s Office takes place as the Indiana General Assembly is considering legislation to combat pain clinics that overprescribe addictive narcotic painkillers and put patients at risk. Senate Bill 246, which imposes various new requirements on such clinics, passed unanimously in the Indiana Senate on Monday and advanced to the Indiana House. The legislation was recommended by Attorney General Zoeller, who chairs the state’s Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

5 COMMENTS

  1. So is Med 1st in any trouble. It seems like they have a huge problem with this. So who owns Med 1st? Anyone out there know?

  2. Darn regulations hindering private businesses! Once she kills a few people nobody will go to her. Don’t you liberals understand economics? We don’t need no stinkin safe medical practices here in ‘Murica.

  5. I think people need to know the whole story… it was the Dr. not the clinic. Dr. Poeling may own the clinic, but he does not run it…check your facts before trashing someone’s livelihood. They have been there for over 30 years helping people and employing 20 local Evansville people! I wish more people would support the small local businesses instead of trash talking them.

Comments are closed.