Opinion ID: 1973256
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: postrevocation

Text: Although he was eligible to apply for reinstatement in 1999, Navrkal testified that he did not apply at that time because he wasn't ready. I was still struggling with the depression and I'd had a relapse of alcohol abuse. That year, he was arrested in Texas for driving under the influence. During the stop, Navrkal refused to take a breath test when the arresting officer did not agree to release him if such a test was negative. Navrkal eventually pled no contest to a charge of reckless driving, for which he was placed on 1-year's probation, received a suspended sentence of 30 days' imprisonment, was fined $200, and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. Navrkal earned a juris doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 2000 and a master of laws degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 2002. Since 1997, he has earned 324 credit hours of continuing medical education and has authored more than a dozen papers and presentations concerning medical legal issues. At the time of the hearing before the board in this case, Navrkal was employed with Medical Law Associates, where he participated in medical case reviews involving medical legal issues. He had applied to take the Texas bar examination in July 2003, his second attempt at passing the examination. Navrkal was also nearing completion of his thesis for a master's degree in public health at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Navrkal was engaged to be married in October 2003. Since 1997, Navrkal has addressed his alcohol and depression issues in several ways. He began seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist. The record contains a letter from Dr. Edgar Nace, a psychiatrist Navrkal met regularly with from October 1997 to September 1998. Nace met Navrkal again in February 2003 to review Navrkal's progress over the prior few years. Nace had the following to say about Navrkal: Dr. Navrkal has entered into a sustained period of recovery from alcohol dependence. This is documented through the Travis County Medical Society Physician's Health Program as well as through his educational and work record since he moved to Texas. He remains committed to 12-Step programs and carries a very good prognosis. Dr. Navrkal also has shown full understanding of the error he made years ago regarding an intimate relationship with a patient. This was clearly an alcohol abuse related incident. This was a one-time occurrence in Dr. Navrkal's career and there is no reason to expect that this behavior would be repeated. This issue has been dealt with in Dr. Navrkal's therapy with me.... Further, Dr. Navrkal has experienced considerable remorse and regret over this issue of judgment which occurred early in his career. I have many years of experience treating physicians with addictive and exploitive behaviors through my role as committee member of [the] Texas Medical Association Physician Health Committee. Dr. Navrkal does not fit a profile of physicians who are likely to engage in repetitive exploitive behaviors. There is no reason why Dr. Navrkal could not return to the practice of medicine. He is committed to fulfilling his ambition to be a primary care physician in spite of the fact that he has demonstrated considerable accomplishments in other academic areas. Navrkal has also participated in a monitoring program and a voluntary drug screening program through the Texas Medical Association. At the time of the hearing before the board, Navrkal had been sober for 3 years, 9 months. He has been actively involved in International Doctors of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. In addition to the letter from Nace, Navrkal's application was accompanied by numerous letters of recommendation from doctors, lawyers, the pastor of his church, and others he has worked with. At the time of the board hearing, Navrkal had been accepted into two residency programs: one at the University of Massachusetts and the other at Louisiana State University. His participation in either program was subject to having his Nebraska license reinstated. Navrkal testified that if his Nebraska license were to be reinstated, he would probably move to Massachusetts or Louisiana and enter into one of those two programs. Navrkal testified that physicians' health rehabilitation committees in Massachusetts and Louisiana had indicated their willingness to work with and support Navrkal should he relocate to either of those states.