NEWS MAKERS 2013
From the 7.29.13 Issue
BROKEN OATH: Is S.C.’s medical board too lenient?
July 29 - August
11, 2013 • www.charle
BROKEN OATH : Is S.C. stonbusines
s.com
’s medical boar d too lenient?
S.C. ranks last for actions in medic disciplinary al profession By Matt Tomsic
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See MEDICAL
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mtomsic@sc biznews.com ince 2006, the S.C. Board of last or second Medical Examiners to against the state’s last in serious disciplinary has ranked actions taken doctors. The rankings are part of a lic Citizen, a watchdog group yearly report put together ical professiona by Pubthat analyzes ls per 1,000 the who have their number of medlicenses revoked,
South Carolina has one of the lowest disciplinary rates nationwide for medical professional s. One argues the rankings nonprofit state is too lenient, mean the but medical professional s say the stat means the medical board weeds out bad doctors before licensing them. Column: Medical Board president study shows says S.C. among best. Page 31
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The knowledge economy isn’t the only way startups are making money in the Charleston region. Two entrepreneur use ideas that s leverage technology don’t depend but on it for their businesses, and that’s more reflective of American entrepreneur ship, says one expert. Full story, Page 10
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Selected examples of other disciplinary actions against S.C. medical professionals from the S.C. medical board.
In 2012, the medical board reprimanded a Rock Hill doctor for performing a breast examination on a 19-year-old female patient who arrived at the medical center after being hit by a car. The medical board publicly reprimanded him; fined him $1,063; ordered a $1,000 civil penalty; and required him to take a sexual boundaries course and disruptive physicians course. In 2003, the medical board reprimanded a Charleston doctor for recording videos of people using the staff bathroom. The doctor said he installed the video camera in an effort to enhance office security. The board temporarily suspended his license, then reinstated it with conditions about a month later. The medical board publicly reprimanded the doctor; fined him $10,000; suspended him for one year
but stayed the suspension; and placed conditions on his license. In 2010, the medical board reprimanded an Abbeville County doctor who had been arrested for criminal sexual conduct, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. The doctor had also abused and diverted painkillers; killed three of his hunting dogs after they had killed a neighbor’s goats; and had sexual affairs with two patients and three staff members. The doctor’s license was suspended for about six months, then reinstated. The medical board also publicly reprimanded the doctor; suspended his license, then stayed that suspension as long as he met certain conditions; required board approval for workplace settings and schedule; and fined him $10,000.
shoes. (Photo/Andy
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see positive trends in several sectors. Page 11
40th 30th 20th 10th
2011
Note: Public Citizen stopped calculating yearly rankings and began three-year averages in 2003. Source: Public Citizen, “Ranking of State Medical Boards’ Disciplinary Actions”
Total Investigations in S.C., 2004-2012 A breakdown of investigations and penalties given by the S.C. medical board against physicians in the state.
Investigations.......................................3,821 Indefinite suspension.................................23 Indefinite suspension (stayed)....................14 Relinquish license......................................30 Revocation.................................................16 Definite suspension.....................................1 Definite suspension (stayed)........................7 Undefined suspension................................24
After leading the Medical University of South Carolina for 13 years, President Ray Greenberg left at the end of August to become executive vice chancellor for health affairs for The University of Texas System in Austin. MUSC’s board launched a national search for his replacement, and candidates are expected to visit Charleston in April.
Source: S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
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Businesswomen honored by peers for impacting business, community. Page 13
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Public Citizen analyzes serious disciplinary actions taken by medical boards nationwide and ranks states by actions per 1,000 professionals.
otherNewsmakers
40 Charleston Regional Business Journal | Newsmakers
By Liz Segrist
lsegrist@scb iznews.com
fter leading the Medical University of South Carolina for 13 years, President Raymond announced Greenberg he August to becomeis leaving at the end of for health affairs executive vice chancellor System in Austin.for the University of Texas The same day ture announcemGreenberg made his deparboard of trusteesent, July 10, the MUSC MUSC’s provost unanimously appointed and vice president demic affairs as interim president. for acaMark S. Sothmann will take the late August, helm in as the board launches a national search for a new president months. in the coming
S.C. Rankings
U.S. Ranking
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ticing good medicine...” said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, founder and senior adviser of Public Citizen, which monitors state medical boards across the country. “Conversely, there are some doctors who are not practicing good medicine. So the question is do they get investigated, do they get disciplined? And it varies. It is a serious public health threat in the states that have medical boards that aren’t doing their job.” From fiscal year 2004 through fiscal 2012, the S.C. Board of Medical Examiners has revoked 16 licenses and suspended 68 licenses after investigating more than 3,000 medical professionals, according to statistics compiled by the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Since fiscal 2004, 30 doctors have voluntarily relinquished their licenses. In the 1990s, South Carolina ranked in the top 20, according to Public Citizen. In 2000, the state ranked 27th, but in 2001, it fell 20 places to 47th. “The real issue is what happens to the small fraction of doctors in every state that are doing things that merit discipline,” Wolfe said. “In some states, year after year, they’re much more likely to get disciplined. And year after year in other states, they’re much less likely.” Costa criticized Public Citizen’s rankings. The board has stronger revocation laws than other states, and when it revokes someone’s license, that doctor can never practice again in the state. The board also uses other penalties, such as restricting practices or charging fines, to ensure physicians practice safely after being investigated.
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MUSC president to leave for University of Texas System
proposition
Business worry most about retaining high-potenti employees. Page al 2
ince 2006, the S.C. Board of Medical Examiners has ranked last or second to last in serious disciplinary actions taken against the state’s doctors. The rankings are part of a yearly report put together by Public Citizen, a watchdog group that analyzes the number of medical professionals per 1,000 who have their licenses revoked, suspended or surrendered, among other penalties, and ranks them based on the number of serious actions taken by the medical boards. Some doctors criticize the rankings, though, saying the model is flawed. “The supposition that a serious sanction means that doctors in that state are of a lower-caliber doctor is absolutely counterintuitive,” said Dr. Louis Costa, president of the medical board, adding that it’s like saying the safest state is the one with the highest level of criminal convictions. “It takes a lot to get a medical degree and get licensed, and in some instances we feel the doctors are capable of rehab and can offer safe services in the future.” In South Carolina, doctors have kept their medical licenses after abusing drugs, having sex with patients, botching operations, leaving surgery while patients are sedated and performing surgeries on incorrect limbs, according to a Charleston Regional Business Journal review of medical board orders. Sometimes, those medical professionals are reprimanded and suspended but the suspension is stayed as long as certain conditions are met and fines are paid. “The assumption is most doctors in all states are prac-
By Matt Tomsic
mtomsic@sc biznews.com n August 2006, the first time, Dr. Steven A. Matzinger snorting the hunting trip. drug through used cocaine for a straw while “I was with on a deposition. “Wea friend,” Matzinger said, going to sit out were going hunting in according to a 2012 the evening, on a deer stand, and I was and I took a hit.”
The Farm Stand’s Cade Shelley and John Moye serve at S.C. Federal Credit Union. (Photo/Leslie Burden)
By Matt Tomsic
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Doctor, addict ed to cocaine, continued to practi ce in S.C.