State suspends psychologist Janet Asay over sex with patient

On January 9, 2012, the Delaware Board of Examiners of Psychologists suspended the license of Janet Asay, Ph.D. for two years. According to the Board’s Consent Agreement, Asay self-reported to the Board that she engaged in a romantic and sexual relationship with a former client within two years of the termination of his therapy, in violation of the state laws governing the conduct of psychologists. When she resumes practice, Asay will be subject to the monitoring of her practice for two years.

Source: Consent Agreement in re: Janet Asay, License No. B1-0000368, Case No. 26-05-09, before the Delaware Board of Examiners of Psychologists.  

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Iowa psychiatrist surrenders license; pre-signed 100+ prescriptions

On November 18, 2011, psychiatrist John L. Duffy surrendered his license to the Iowa Board of Medicine on charges that he failed to conform to the minimal standard of acceptable and prevailing practice of medicine when he pre-signed more than 100 blank prescriptions that were then issued by his non-physician staff, many for controlled substances.

Source: Statement of Charges and Settlement Agreement in the Matter of the Statement of Charges Against John L. Duffy, M.D., Filed No. 02-11-088, before the Iowa Board of Medicine.

State restricts psychiatrist Roger A. Johnson from prescribing psychiatric drugs

On January 21, 2011, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice issued a Stipulation and Order restricting psychiatrist Roger A. Johnson from prescribing neuropsychiatric medications for a sis-month period. According to the Board’s document, the Board received a complaint in 2008 alleging that Johnson prescribed excessive dosages of multiple drugs to a patient and failed to consider potential side effects or recognize possible adverse interactions of the drugs. A review of his practice revealed that on multiple occasions, Johnson prescribed excessive quantities of psychiatric drugs to patients but failed to document an objective clinical basis for the initiation, for ongoing prescriptions, the need for multiple duplicative drugs or the large quantity of drugs authorized at the same time. He also failed to order routine blood level testing or to adequately document patients’ symptoms and complaints and vital signs, among other things.

Source: Stipulation and Order in the Matter of the Medical License of Roger A. Johnson, M.D., License No. 17731, Before the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.

Psychiatrist Jon Christopher Webb surrendered license for over prescribing

On January 12, 2012, psychiatrist Jon Christopher Webb surrendered his license to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. According to the Board’s website, a complaint was registered against Webb in April 2011 regarding controlled dangerous substances. The reason given for his license suspension is “over-prescribing.”

Source: Entry on Jon C. Webb, as found on the Licensee Information search page of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision website. 

Psychiatrist Warren A. Olson surrenders license following drunk driving conviction

On March 31, 2012, psychiatrist Warren A. Olson surrendered his license to the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, based on disciplinary action taken on him by another state. Olson
surrendered his license to the Medical Board of California in March 2011. According to California Medical Board’s Accusation, Olson was arrested and charged August 2, 2010 with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and leaving the scene of an accident.  On December 21, 2010, he entered no contest pleas on the charges relative to both incidents. However, he neglected to make his criminal convictions known to the California Board within 30 days, as required by state regulation. The document notes that Olson had a 2002 conviction for driving under the influence.

Source: Stipulation for Surrender of Certificate, in the Matter of the Accusation Against Warren A. Olson, M.D., Physician and Surgeon Certificate No. C37203, Case No. 03-2010-209391, Before the Medical Board of California Department of Consumer Affairs and Final Decision and Order in the Matter of the Disciplinary Proceedings Against Warren A. Olson, M.D., Order 0001437, Case #11 MED 114, Wisconsin Medical Examining Board.

State reprimands social worker Derek Findlay for fraudulent billing

On March 5, 2012, the Virginia Board of Social Work reprimanded licensed clinical social worker Derek R. Findlay. According to the Board’s Findings of Fact, Findlay, who was part-owner of Tri-Cities Counseling in Colonial Heights, Virginia, billed clients and their insurance carriers improperly for counseling services. Specifically, Findlay billed one client for two sessions on different days when in fact the client had attended an extended session on one day; Findlay billed a client couple for counseling sessions when the couple had cancelled the sessions; Findlay billed another client for an in-office counseling appointment when in fact the client was ill and could not attend the session; Findlay spent a few minutes talking to this same client in a parking lot but billed for an entire hour of counseling; he also billed the client for appointments on four days without recording any progression notes on those dates.

Source: Consent Order in re: Derek R. Findlay, L.C.S.W., license no. 0904-004351, case no. 133536, Before the Virginia Board of Social Work.

State suspends social worker Melodi Horne for sex with client

On February 7, 2012, the Virginia Board of Social Work indefinitely suspended the license of licensed clinical social worker Melodi D. Horne for no less than six months. The Board’s document states that Horne engaged in a personal, romantic and sexual relationship with former client fewer than five years after the October 2008 termination of their therapeutic relationship. Further, it states that she failed to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan, failed to monitor progress toward the meeting of treatment goals and that she failed to keep confidential records of the client’s therapy in a secure place.

The Board reinstated Horne’s license one or about August 29, 2012.

Source: Consent Order in re: Melodi D. Horne L.C.S.W. (aka Melodi Loggins), license no. 0904-006047, case no. 136296, Before the Virginia Board of Social Work.

Mental health counselor James W. Taylor surrenders license after expressing sexual feelings for client

On February 8, 2012, licensed professional counselor James W. Taylor voluntarily surrendered his license to the Virginia Board of Counseling. According to the Board’s Consent Order, during the course of providing intermittent group and individual counseling to a female client, Taylor gave the client financial gifts and a cell phone, visited her once at her home and permitted her to visit him at his office without billing her for a therapy session. Taylor admitted having sexual feelings for the client, which he confessed to her. The Board’s document states that “Given Client A’s emotional fragility, this information caused her to become upset, disorganized, and perhaps suicidal.” Taylor’s employer terminated him as a result of this behavior.

Source: Consent Order in re: James W. Taylor, L.P.C., license no. 0701-002988, case no. 141594, before the Virginia Board of Counseling.

State places mental health counselor Timothy Latsko on probation for sex with patient

On March 19, 2012, the Virginia Board of Counseling placed licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist Timothy W. Latsko on indefinited probation for not less than one year, subject to terms and conditions. According to the Board’s Consent Order, in late 2009, Latsko entered into a sexual relationship with former client, within three months of the termination of the therapeutic relationship. It further states that Latsko failed to maintain certain client materials securely by storing boxes of such material in the garage of the former client with whom he was having the sexual relationship. Those materials, the Board noted, are still in possession of the former client. The conditions of Latsko’s probation include supervision of his practice by a Board-approved supervisor, among other things.

Source: Consent Order in re: Timothy W. Latsko, L.P.C., L.M.F.T., license nos. 0701-003702 and 0717-001186, case nos. 131519, 136604, 136599 & 141823, before the Virginia Board of Counseling.

State reprimands social worker Derek Findlay for fraudulent billings

On March 5, 2012, the Virginia Board of Social Work reprimanded licensed clinical social worker Derek R. Findlay. According to the Board’s Findings of Fact, Findlay, who was part-owner of Tri-Cities Counseling in Colonial Heights, Virginia, billed clients and their insurance carriers improperly for counseling services. Specifically, Findlay billed one client for two sessions on different days when in fact the client had attended an extended session on one day; Findlay billed a client couple for counseling sessions when the couple had cancelled the sessions; Findlay billed another client for an in-office counseling appointment when in fact the client was ill and could not attend the session; Findlay spent a few minutes talking to this same client in a parking lot but billed for an entire hour of counseling; he also billed the client for appointments on four days without recording any progression notes on those dates.

Source: Consent Order in re: Derek R. Findlay, L.C.S.W., license no. 0904-004351, case no. 133536, Before the Virginia Board of Social Work.