State of Florida FINALLY takes action on psychiatrist with history of ampthetamine abuse

On June 18, 2014 the Florida Board of Medicine accepted Florida psychiatrist’s David G. Malen’s voluntary relinquishment of his medical license.

Per the terms of the agreement Malen may never again apply for a physician’s license in Florida.

The Florida Department of Health initiated its case against Malen in 2007.

The administrative complaint which resulted in Malen giving up his license, contained information about Malen’s “history of taking ‘extraordinary’ doses of amphetamines with extreme difficulties resulting from the drugs, including depression, suicide attempts and psychosis,” as well as his continued use of and addiction to the substance.

The Department of Health’s document further contains information about Malen’s submission to the state’s Professionals Resource Network (“PRN,” a program for impaird physicians) in 2008. This resulted in Malen undergoing several psychiatric evaluations between 2008 and 2011, all of which found him impaired, yet it appears that the state continued to allow him to practice.

You read that correctly: Malen’s drug addiction was a well-documented concern since 2007, yet his license was free and clear from 2007 to June 2014.

Jacksonville substance abuse psychiatrist arrested for driving under the influence

A Jacksonville psychiatrist who specializes in substance abuse and addiction treatment was arrested Thursday and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or chemical substance, police said.

Mohamed Omar Saleh, 59, of Campbell Avenue was jailed on $5,000 bail after his arrest that began with a traffic stop spurred by a retired Jacksonville police officer, records show. The stop occurred on northbound Interstate 95 near Duval Road about midnight.

Saleh’s arrest report said that former officer Brian Murphy saw a white vehicle swerving on the highway and police were contacted. Two officers stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by Saleh. The Highway Patrol was then summoned for help.

A third Jacksonville police officer told a trooper that Saleh was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, the report said. The trooper performed a field sobriety test and concluded that Saleh was impaired. He was then jailed, where he gave a urine sample for testing. The test has not been completed.

Saleh’s business, the Center for Medicine and Wellness, is at 1408 San Marco Blvd., state health records show. He has been practicing since at least 1984 and has privileges at Baptist Medical Center, Memorial Hospital and St. Johns River Hospital.

Gaston said a handful of agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, local narcotics detectives and the state Department of Health sought records of Saleh’s arrest after they learned about Thursday’s incident. He said the agencies did not say why they wanted those records.

State health officials did not return calls seeking information about Saleh and their knowledge of the arrest.

Saleh hung up on a Times-Union reporter who reached him on his cell phone.

Source: Jim Schoettler, “Jacksonville psychiatrist who specializes in substance abuse treatment charged with DUI,” Florida Times-Union, July 20, 2012.

Psychologist Juan C. Perez gets probation for substance abuse relapse

On January 18, 2012, the California Board of Psychology suspended Juan C. Perez, Ph.D. for 90 days as part of a seven-year probation of his license due to his relapse into substance abuse.

The Board’s document states that Perez showed up at work on or about April 9, 2010 under the influence of a benzodiazepine and was impaired. Perez admitted that the incident was a relapse into substance abuse. Ten years earlier, Perez pleaded guilty on three occasions to reckless driving, driving under the influence and unlicensed driving. At that time, the Board filed an Accusation against him which concluded in a settlement agreement which placed him on probation for five years with terms and conditions. However, four years later, he relapsed. The Board’s document states that he has a history of showing up to work while under the influence and has been sent home by his superiors for the same.

Source: Decision and Order in the Matter of the Amended Accusation Against Juan C. Perez, Psychologist License No. PSY 14184, Case No. 1F-2010-207398, OAH No. 2011100780, California Board of Psychology.

Arizona suspends social worker Kathleen Hernandez

On February 3, 2012, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners suspended the license of social worker Kathleen A. Hernandez for an indefinite period.

According to the Board’s disciplinary report, Hernandez was arrested in December 2006 for Extreme DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of .232.

In April 2007, the Board executed an interim consent agreement prohibiting her from practicing.

In January 2008, the Board released her from the interim agreement and executed a consent agreement requiring her to attend AA twice a week and other conditions.

In May 2009, the Board released her from the terms of the consent order.

In December 2011, Hernandez was again arrested for DUI.

Source: Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Adverse Action Tracking Form, 2012.