Texas Medical Board
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Addendum To TMB Release of Thursday, June 14, 2007: Nine Additional Actions
Media contact: Public Information Officer Jill Wiggins at jill.wiggins@tmb.state.tx.us or (512) 305-7018.
Non-media contact: (512) 305-7030 or (800) 248-4062.
The following nine disciplinary actions against physicians were omitted from the TMB release of June 14. They include four actions based on quality of care, one action based on impairment due to alcohol or drugs, two actions based on advertising violations and two minimal statutory violations. These bring the total number of disciplinary actions for the June 7-8 board meeting to 39.
Open records requests for orders may be made to openrecords@tmb.state.tx.us. Media contact Jill Wiggins at (512) 305-7018 or jill.wiggins@tmb.state.tx.us.
QUALITY OF CARE VIOLATIONS
- BLISSARD,
PAUL, M.D., AUSTIN, TX, Lic. #F6453
On June 8, 2007, the Board and Dr. Blissard entered into a three-year Agreed Order requiring that he have his practice monitored by another physician; that he have signed pain management contracts in all chronic pain patient files; and that he obtain 30 hours of Category I CME with 10 hours in medical record keeping, 10 hours in headache management, and 10 hours in pain management. The action was based on standard of care violations including his failure to adequately document past medical history, perform or document adequate physical examinations, adequately document reasons for diagnoses made, and use laboratory and imaging studies as tools to diagnose. - MARROW,
CHARLES, M.D., TEXARKANA, TX, Lic. #E4006
On June 8, 2007, the Board and Dr. Marrow entered into an Agreed Order assessing an administrative penalty of $1,000 and requiring that Dr. Marrow provide a $200 refund to a patient for charges she incurred. The action was based on Dr. Marrow’s overcharging for completion of disability forms for a patient that were never actually sent to the appropriate parties. - SLOMAN-MOLL,
ERIK, M.D., LAREDO, TX, Lic. #K6333
On June 8, 2007, the Board and Dr. Sloman-Moll entered into a three-year Agreed Order requiring that Dr. Sloman-Moll attend a Board-approved pain-management course of at least 10 hours and a course in antibiotic therapy of at least five hours, and pay an administrative penalty of $5,000. The action was based on Dr. Sloman-Moll’s treatment of two patients where he used an aggressive procedure given the first patient’s symptoms and current health status and prescribed a pain medication that was contraindicated for the second patient. - THURMAN,
BENJAMIN HILL, M.D., SAN ANGELO, TX, Lic. #F4604
On June 8, 2007, the Board and Dr. Thurman entered into an Agreed Order requiring that Dr. Thurman obtain 20 hours of Board-approved CME, with half in ethics and the other half in medical record-keeping, and pay an administrative penalty of $1,000. The action was based on Dr. Thurman’s failure to keep adequate medical records and use medically acceptable testing to support his diagnosis of mercury toxicity in a patient.
IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
- SAUCEDA,
FRANCISCO BASIL, M.D., SAN ANTONIO, TX, Lic. # H8375
On June 8, 2007, the Board and Dr. Sauceda entered into a 15-year Agreed Order placing Dr. Sauceda on probation and requiring that he abstain from the consumption of prohibited substances; participate in the Board’s drug screening program; obtain treatment from a psychiatrist on at least a monthly basis, with reports from the treating psychiatrist sent to an independent monitoring psychiatrist; attend AA or Caduceus at least five times a week; limit his practice to a group or institutional setting; not supervise PAs or APNs; and enroll in and complete a clinical mini-residency of at least 90 days. The action was based on the lifting of a suspension of Dr. Sauceda’s license that has been in effect since February 17, 2005. The suspension occurred due to Dr. Sauceda’s substance abuse and arrest in December 2004 for cocaine possession and misdemeanor theft.
ADVERTISING VIOLATIONS
- CZEKAJ,
PHILIP, M.D., SAN ANTONIO, TX, Lic. #G4946
On June 8, 2007, the Board and Dr. Czekaj entered into an Agreed Order assessing an administrative penalty of $500. The action was based on Dr. Czekaj’s use of misleading advertising that implied that Dr. Czekaj was board certified in Cenegenics or Age Management, when his actual board certification is in Emergency and Preventive Medicine. - ROUTH,
LISA, M.D., HOUSTON, TX, Lic. #H2742
On June 8, 2007, the Board and Dr. Routh entered into an Agreed Order assessing an administrative penalty of $1,000 and requiring that Dr. Routh revise her internet advertising to comply with all relevant laws and rules and submit copies of the revised advertisements to the Executive Director. The action was based on Dr. Routh’s use of misleading advertising that included non-verifiable statements of professional superiority on the internet.
MINIMAL STATUTORY VIOLATIONS
The following licensees agreed to enter into orders with the Board for minimal statutory violations:
Gardner, Robert L., M.D., Dallas, TX, Lic. #D7045
Sims, Ronald, M.D., Boerne, TX, Lic. #G0123
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The Texas Medical Board, the state agency that regulates physicians, physician assistants, surgical assistants and acupuncturists, provides consumer protection through licensure, investigation and disciplinary action. The Board, under President Roberta M. Kalafut, D.O., and Executive Director Donald W. Patrick, M.D., J.D., and mandated by Senate Bill 104 of the 78th Legislature and S.B. 419 of the 79th Legislature, is strengthening and accelerating the disciplinary process for licensees who fail to meet the required standards of professional proficiency and behavior. Information on filing a complaint is on the agency web site at www.tmb.state.tx.us or by calling (800) 201-9353.