Opinion ID: 1263929
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: just punishment

Text: In the Complaint against Dr. Clark, allegations are made that his violations of West Virginia Statutory and Regulatory Law, rise to the level of unprofessional, dishonorable and unethical conduct, and that his conduct is of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public. Based upon the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law made by the Board, Dr. Clark is to lose his license to practice medicine. I have found that the most damning allegations against Dr. Clark were not proved by clear and convincing evidence and cannot, therefore, be used to revoke his medical license. Thus, the focus of the issue of just punishment for Dr. Clark turns on whether Dr. Clark's violations of statutory and regulatory law, supported by the record in this case, justify his removal from the practice of medicine. In revoking Dr. Clark's license, the finding that he falsely and fraudulently submitted license renewal applications was given great weight by the Board. The Hearing Examiner conceded that all the other allegations, other than the issue of fraud, ... would not themselves be sufficient to justify the revocation of the respondent's medical license. Recommended decision of the Hearing Examiner at 52. The Board also agreed that the record did not support the allegation that Dr. Clark prescribed controlled substances for himself in August and September, 1989. Furthermore, the Board found that the record did not support the allegation that Dr. Clark is unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety for patients by reason of excessive use and abuse of drugs. Based upon the record in this case, there is no basis for the finding of the Board that Dr. Clark is not qualified to practice medicine and surgery in West Virginia. To conclude, as the Board did, that Dr. Clark is unqualified to practice medicine for failing to maintain any medical records on one patient is unjustified in fact and in law. The sin addressed in Code 30-3-14(c)(11), and West Virginia Board of Medicine Regulation 11 CSR 1A 12, 1(u), is the failure to keep written records justifying the course of treatment of a patientnot, simply, the failure to keep complete medical records. In a similar vein, the Board's conclusion that Dr. Clark prescribed and dispensed Demerol to a patient other than in good faith and in a therapeutic manner, which conclusion was also based upon a finding that Dr. Clark failed to keep complete medical records, is, for that reason, also a flawed conclusion. Based upon the Findings of Fact supported by clear and convincing evidence, it is not proper and in the public interest, health, welfare and safety, to revoke Dr. Clark's license to practice medicine and surgery in the State of West Virginia. The decision of the Board to revoke is now clearly wrong in view of the whole record and is an unwarranted exercise of discretion. A more difficult issue is what is the appropriate punishment for Dr. Clark. The options are limited by statute. If I had the right to do so, considering society's needs, Dr. Clark would be ordered to give a generous amount of his time providing free medical care for the downtrodden. That he should devote his knowledge and talents to service public needs in atonement for his indiscretions and refusal to follow the rules seems to be fair and to fit the conduct condemned by the Board. Unfortunately, this option is not available to the Court. That Dr. Clark should be forbidden from practicing medicine, perhaps forever, is undoubtedly wrong. The right to practice medicine is not the private property of the Board. It is a punishment which should be assigned only to those who commit really putrid violations. There is no reason, grounded upon what Dr. Clark did and did not do in this case, to sentence him to that uncertain abyss for him of living with the interminable revocation of his medical license. Justice must see the human element in any case. It is critical to keep in mind that Dr. Clark confronted his own affliction. His treatment in 1987 was not a malevolent act it was a good one. That he should have dealt with the problem differently cannot be contested, even by his most ardent supporters. But, this is 1995. Eight years have passed since Dr. Clark obtained drug treatment. The opportunity for fresh or even timely justice has long passed. The issue is not whether he deserves a place in William Bennett's The Book of Virtues, but the justness of his banishment from medicine. What purpose is served by destroying Dr. Clark's life? It is not only an overkill, but it is foolish for the Board to end this man's medical career. Without question, he made mistakessome of them serious. But, surely those mistakes do not justify the use of the guillotine on Dr. Clark's career. I am of the opinion that the Board's Order must be modified. Upon the facts proved by clear and convincing evidence, the Board may impose upon Dr. Clark: 1. A public reprimand. 2. A suspension of his license to practice medicine and surgery for a period of six months. /S/ Ronald E. Wilson JUDGE