Gilbert Eugene Johnson, M.D.; Revocation of Registration, 65663-65667 [2010-27028]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
four), and such other conduct which
may threaten public health and safety
(factor five), establishes that he has
committed acts which render his
continued registration ‘‘inconsistent
with the public interest.’’ 21 U.S.C.
824(a)(4). This finding provides reason
alone to revoke Registrant’s registrations
and to deny any pending applications to
renew or modify his registrations.
The Loss of State Authority Ground
Under the CSA, a practitioner must
possess authority to dispense controlled
substances under the laws of the State
in which he engages in his professional
practice in order to obtain and maintain
a DEA registration. See 21 U.S.C.
802(21) (defining the term ‘‘practitioner’’
as a person ‘‘licensed, registered, or
otherwise permitted, by the United
States or the jurisdiction in which he
practices * * * to distribute, dispense
* * * [or] administer * * * a
controlled substance’’), id. § 823(f) (‘‘The
Attorney General shall register
practitioners * * * to dispense * * *
controlled substances * * * if the
applicant is authorized to dispense
* * * controlled substances under the
laws of the State in which he
practices.’’). As these provisions make
plain, possessing authority under State
law to handle controlled substances is
an essential condition for holding a DEA
registration. See John B. Freitas, 74 FR
17524, 17525 (2009); Dominick A. Ricci,
58 FR 51104, 51105 (1993); Bobby
Watts, 53 FR 11919, 11920 (1988).
DEA, has therefore, held repeatedly
that the CSA requires the revocation of
a registration issued to a practitioner
whose State authority has been
suspended or revoked. David W. Wang,
72 FR 54297, 54298 (2007); Sheran
Arden Yeates, 71 FR 39130, 39131
(2006); Dominick A. Ricci, 58 FR 51104,
51105 (1993); Bobby Watts, 53 FR
11919, 11920 (1988). See also id.
§ 824(a)(3) (a ‘‘registration pursuant to
section 823 of this title to * * *
dispense a controlled substance * * *
may be suspended or revoked by the
Attorney General upon a finding that
the registrant * * * has had his State
license suspended, revoked, or denied
by competent State authority and is no
longer authorized by State law to engage
in the * * * dispensing of controlled
substances’’). DEA has further held that
revocation is warranted even where a
practitioner’s State authority has been
summarily suspended and the State has
yet to provide the practitioner with a
hearing to challenge the State’s action.
See Robert Wayne Mosier, 75 FR 49950
(2010) (‘‘revocation is warranted * * *
even in those instances where a
practitioner’s State license has only
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:09 Oct 25, 2010
Jkt 223001
been suspended, and there is the
possibility of reinstatement’’); accord
Bourne Pharmacy, 72 FR 18273, 18274
(2007).
As found above, on May 5, 2010, the
Florida Surgeon General immediately
suspended Registrant’s State medical
license. Registrant is therefore without
authority to dispense controlled
substances in the State where he holds
his DEA registrations. Registrant’s loss
of his State authority thus provides an
additional basis for revoking his
registrations. Accordingly, his
registrations will be revoked and any
pending application will be denied.
Order
Pursuant to the authority vested in me
by 21 U.S.C. 823(f) and 824(a), as well
as 28 CFR 0.100(b) and 0.104, I order
that DEA Certificates of Registration
BB2972140, XB2972140, and
FB1490349, issued to Stephen B.
Brown, M.D., be, and they hereby are,
revoked. I further order that any
pending application of Stephen B.
Brown, M.D., to renew or modify such
registrations, be, and it hereby is,
denied. This order is effective
immediately.3
Dated: October 15, 2010.
Michele M. Leonhart,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010–27031 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–09–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Drug Enforcement Administration
Gilbert Eugene Johnson, M.D.;
Revocation of Registration
On November 20, 2008, the Deputy
Assistant Administrator, Office of
Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement
Administration, issued an Order to
Show Cause to Gilbert Eugene Johnson,
M.D. (Respondent), of Idabel,
Oklahoma. The Show Cause Order
proposed the revocation of
Respondent’s DEA Certificate of
Registration, AJ6783535, as a
practitioner, and the denial of any
pending applications to renew or
modify his registration, on the ground
that Respondent’s ‘‘continued
registration is inconsistent with the
public interest, as that term is used in
21 U.S.C. 823(f).’’ Show Cause Order at
1.
3 For the same reason that I ordered the
immediate suspension of Registrant’s DEA
registrations, I conclude that the public interest
requires that this Order shall be effective
immediately.
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
65663
The Show Cause Order alleged that
the Oklahoma State Board of Medical
Licensure had found that: (1)
Respondent ‘‘prescribed or administered
a drug (i.e., meperidine, a schedule II
controlled substance, and hydrocodone,
a schedule III controlled substance) or
treatment without sufficient
examination or the establishment of a
valid physician patient relationship’’; (2)
Respondent ‘‘engaged in indiscriminate
or excessive prescribing, dispensing or
administering of controlled or narcotic
drugs’’; and (3) Respondent ‘‘prescribed,
dispensed or administered controlled
substances or narcotic drugs in excess of
the amount considered good medical
practice or prescribed, dispensed or
administered controlled substances or
narcotic drugs without medical need.’’
Id. at 1–2.
Next, the Show Cause Order alleged
that on June 23, 2008, based on the
Oklahoma Board’s action, the Medical
Board of California ‘‘ordered the
revocation of [Respondent’s] license to
practice medicine in that state, effective
July 23, 2008.’’ Id. at 2. Finally, the
Order alleged that on July 7, 2008,
Respondent ‘‘falsified’’ his application
for renewal of his DEA registration ‘‘by
answering ‘no’ to the question
concerning whether [Respondent] had
ever had a state professional license
revoked or placed on probation or
whether any such action was pending.’’
Id.
On December 16, 2008, the Show
Cause Order was served on Respondent
by certified mail to him at the address
which he had recently given the Agency
as his new registered location on his
application to modify his registration.
On January 29, 2009, Respondent’s
counsel filed a request for a hearing and
the matter was placed on the docket of
the Agency’s Administrative Law Judges
(ALJs).
Thereafter, the ALJ requested that the
parties address whether Respondent had
timely requested a hearing. See
Corrected Order Cancelling Hearing and
Terminating Proceedings, at 1.
Following receipt of the parties’
submissions, the ALJ found that
Respondent’s request was not timely
because it was not filed within 30 days
of service of the Show Cause Order as
required by 21 CFR 1301.43(a). Id. at 2.
Because Respondent had not
‘‘provide[d] a basis upon which to find
good cause,’’ the ALJ held that his
failure to file a timely request
constituted a waiver of his right to a
hearing. Id. (citing 21 CFR 1301.43(d)
and Brinton D. Glisson, 72 FR 54296
(2007)). Accordingly, the ALJ canceled
the scheduled hearing, terminated the
proceedings, and directed that the
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
65664
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices
matter be forwarded to me for final
agency action pursuant to 21 CFR
1301.43(d) and 1301.46.
Thereafter, the Government forwarded
the investigative record to me for final
agency action. Having considered the
record, I agree with the ALJ’s finding
that Respondent has waived his right to
a hearing because he failed to timely file
his request and has not offered good
cause for his failure to do so. I further
find that Respondent materially falsified
his July 2008 application and that he
has committed acts which render his
registration inconsistent with the public
interest. 21 U.S.C. 823(f) & 824(a)(1) &
(4). Accordingly, Respondent’s
registration will be revoked and his
pending application to modify his
registration will be denied. I make the
following findings.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Findings
Respondent previously held DEA
registration, AJ6783535. While this
registration expired on December 31,
2007, on July 9, 2008, Respondent
submitted a renewal application and the
registration was reinstated with an
expiration date of December 31, 2010.
Moreover, on December 11, 2008,
Respondent requested to change the
address of his registered location. I
therefore find that Respondent has a
registration and that his application to
modify his registration is pending before
the Agency.
On March 22, 2007, Respondent and
the Oklahoma Board of State Medical
Licensure and Supervision (Oklahoma
Board) entered into an Order Accepting
Voluntary Submittal to Jurisdiction
(hereinafter, Order). Therein,
Respondent pled guilty to the
allegations in a Complaint and Citation
which the Oklahoma Board had filed on
January 27, 2007.
In the Order, the Oklahoma Board
found that Respondent treated another
physician, DWW, from around January
2004 through July 2006. During this
period, Respondent issued ‘‘two (2)
prescriptions for Meperidine, a
Schedule II controlled dangerous
substance * * * six (6) prescriptions for
Testosterone and Hydrocodone, both
Schedule III controlled dangerous
substances * * * and twelve (12)
prescriptions for Alprazolam, Soma, and
But/Apap/Caf, Schedule IV controlled
dangerous substances.’’ 1 Order at 2,
Oklahoma ex rel. Bd. of Medical
Licensure & Supervision v. Johnson
(Okla. Bd. of Med. Lic. & Super. Mar. 22,
1 Neither Soma (carisoprodol) nor But/Apap/Caf
is a controlled substance under Federal law.
However, the other drugs noted in the Board’s order
are controlled under Federal law.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:09 Oct 25, 2010
Jkt 223001
2007). Respondent issued these
prescriptions without ‘‘perform[ing] any
physical examination on DWW’’ and
without establishing either ‘‘a valid
physician patient relationship’’ or ‘‘a
legitimate medical need for the medical
treatment.’’ Id. In addition, he ‘‘failed to
maintain complete and accurate records
of all controlled dangerous drugs
prescribed.’’ Id. When questioned by an
Oklahoma Board investigator,
Respondent admitted that he did not
keep a patient record on DWW. Id.
The Oklahoma Board also found that
Respondent treated JWW, DWW’s wife,
from around November 2004 through
February 2005. Id. at 3. Respondent
issued to JWW, ‘‘one (1) prescription for
Demerol, a Schedule II controlled
dangerous substance[,] * * * one (1)
prescription for Histinex HC, a Schedule
III controlled dangerous substance, and
six (6) prescriptions for Alprazolam and
But/Apap/Caf, Schedule IV controlled
dangerous substances.’’ Id. As in the
case of DWW, Respondent issued these
prescriptions to JWW without
‘‘perform[ing] any physical
examination’’ and without establishing
‘‘a valid physician patient relationship’’
or ‘‘a legitimate medical need for the
medical treatment.’’ Id. Again,
Respondent failed to ‘‘maintain
complete and accurate records of all
controlled dangerous substances
prescribed’’ and admitted to an
Oklahoma Board investigator that he did
not see JWW ‘‘as a patient.’’ Id.
The Oklahoma Board further found
that on two occasions, Respondent
issued prescriptions to JOW, one of his
employees, for ‘‘Diazepam, a Schedule
IV controlled dangerous substance’’; the
Board also found that on another
occasion, he issued prescriptions for
‘‘Fiorinal w/Codeine and Coughtuss,
Schedule III controlled dangerous
substances.’’ Id. at 3. As to these
prescriptions, the Board found that ‘‘he
failed to perform any physical
examination on JOW prior to
prescribing the controlled dangerous
drugs in her name, that he did not
establish a valid physician patient
relationship prior to prescribing the
medications, that he did not establish a
legitimate medical need for the medical
treatment, and that he failed to maintain
complete and accurate records of all
controlled dangerous drugs prescribed.’’
Id. Furthermore, the Board found that
Respondent instructed JOW to fill the
diazepam prescriptions at City Drug and
then return them to him for ‘‘office use.’’
Id.
The Oklahoma Board then found
Respondent guilty of ‘‘unprofessional
conduct’’ based on his violations of
numerous provisions of state law and
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
regulations. Id. at 4. The Board found,
inter alia, that he: (1) ‘‘[p]rescribed or
administered a drug or treatment
without sufficient examination and the
establishment of a valid physician
patient relationship,’’ in violation of 59
Okla. Stat. § 509(12); (2) ‘‘[e]ngaged in
indiscriminate or excessive prescribing
* * * of controlled or narcotic drugs,’’
in violation of Okla. Admin. Code
435:10–7–4(1); (3) ‘‘[v]iolated * * *
state or federal law or regulation relating
to controlled substances,’’ in violation of
Okla. Admin. Code 435:10–7–4(27); (4)
‘‘[p]rescribed * * * controlled
substances or narcotic drugs in excess of
the amount considered good medical
practice or prescribed * * * controlled
substances or narcotic drugs without
medical need in accordance with
published standards,’’ in violation of 59
Okla. Stat. § 509(16) and Okla. Admin.
Code 435:10–7–4(2); 5) ‘‘[w]rote a false
or fictitious prescription for any drugs
or narcotics declared by the laws of
[Oklahoma] to be controlled or narcotic
drugs,’’ in violation of 59 Okla. Stat.
§ 509(11); and 6) ‘‘[p]urchased or
prescribed any regulated substance in
Schedule I through V, as defined by the
Uniform Controlled Dangerous
Substances Act, for the physician’s
personal use,’’ in violation of Okla.
Admin. Code 435:10–7–4(5). Id. at 4–5.
Based on its findings, the Oklahoma
Board reprimanded Respondent. The
Board also placed Respondent’s medical
license on probation for one year,
beginning March 22, 2007, subject to
certain conditions including that he
could not call in any controlledsubstance prescriptions, that he
complete board-approved courses in
controlled substance prescribing and
recordkeeping, and that he maintain
duplicate, serially-numbered
prescriptions of controlled substances,
which are readily retrievable and which
must be provided on request to the
Board’s investigators. Id. at 7.
On June 23, 2008, the Medical Board
of California (California Board) adopted
a Default Decision and Order in a
proceeding against Respondent’s
California license. See Decision at 1, In
re Gilbert E. Johnson, M.D. (Med. Bd.
Cal. 2008). In the Default decision, the
Board found that Respondent had been
served with the accusation on
September 25, 2007, and that his
attorney had filed a response. Default
Decision and Order at 1. The Board also
noted that Respondent and his attorney
had been served with a Notice of
Hearing, which informed him of the
scheduled date of the hearing, but that
neither Respondent, nor his attorney,
had appeared. Id.
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Based on the findings of the
Oklahoma Board, the California Board
concluded that Respondent had
committed unprofessional conduct by,
inter alia, prescribing controlled
substances ‘‘to several individuals
without a prior physical examination,
without a valid physician-patient
relationship, without establishing a
medical need for the treatment, and
without maintaining complete and
accurate records.’’ Id. at 2–3. The
California Board further found that
Respondent had committed
unprofessional conduct when he issued
the controlled substance prescriptions
in the name of his employee, ‘‘without
a prior physical examination or medical
indications, and without maintaining an
adequate medical record, and directed
the employee to fill the prescriptions
and then return the drugs to
respondent.’’ Id. at 3. The Board then
revoked Respondent’s California
medical license, effective July 23, 2008.
Decision at 1.
On July 7, 2008, Respondent
completed and signed his renewal
application for his DEA registration.2 In
section 4 of the application, Respondent
was required to answer four ‘‘liability’’
questions. The third of these asked: ‘‘Has
the applicant ever surrendered (for
cause) or had a state professional license
or controlled substance registration
revoked, suspended, denied, restricted,
or placed on probation, or is any such
action pending?’’ (emphasis added).
Respondent answered ‘‘No.’’
Discussion
Section 304(a)(1) of the Controlled
Substances Act (CSA) provides that a
registration ‘‘may be suspended or
revoked by the Attorney General upon
a finding that the registrant * * * has
materially falsified any application
pursuant to or required by this
subchapter.’’ 21 U.S.C. 824(a)(1). Section
304(a)(4) also provides that a
registration to ‘‘dispense a controlled
substance * * * may be suspended or
revoked by the Attorney General upon
a finding that the registrant * * * has
committed such acts as would render
his registration under section 823 of this
title inconsistent with the public
interest as determined under such
section.’’ 21 U.S.C. 824(a)(4). With
respect to a practitioner, the CSA
requires that the following factors be
considered in making the public interest
determination:
(1) The recommendation of the
appropriate State licensing board or
professional disciplinary authority.
2 The form is stamped with the filing date of July
9, 2008.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:09 Oct 25, 2010
Jkt 223001
(2) The [registrant’s] experience in
dispensing * * * controlled substances.
(3) The [registrant’s] conviction record
under Federal or State laws relating to
the manufacture, distribution, or
dispensing of controlled substances.
(4) Compliance with applicable State,
Federal, or local laws relating to
controlled substances.
(5) Such other conduct which may
threaten the public health and safety.21
U.S.C. 823(f).
‘‘[T]hese factors * * * are considered
in the disjunctive.’’ Robert A. Leslie, 68
FR 15227, 15230 (2003). I may rely on
any one or a combination of factors and
give each factor the weight I deem
appropriate in determining whether to
revoke an existing registration or to
deny an application to modify a
registration. Id. Moreover, I am ‘‘not
required to make findings as to all of the
factors.’’ Morall v. DEA, 412 F.3d 165,
173–74 (D.C. Cir. 2005); see also
Volkman v. DEA, 567 F.3d 215, 222 (6th
Cir. 2009).
Having considered the evidence, I
conclude that the record provides two
independent grounds to evoke
Respondent’s registration and to deny
his pending application to modify his
registration. First, Respondent
materially falsified his July 2008
application when he answered ‘‘no’’ to
the question whether he had ever had a
state licensed sanctioned or if any such
action was pending. Second, based on
the Oklahoma Board’s findings
regarding his prescribing of controlled
substances, I conclude that Respondent
has committed acts which render his
registration inconsistent with the public
interest.
The Material Falsification Allegation
As found above, on his July 7, 2008
application, Respondent provided a
‘‘no’’ answer to the question: ‘‘Has the
applicant ever surrendered (for cause) or
had a state professional license or
controlled substance registration
revoked, suspended, denied, restricted,
or placed on probation, or is any such
action pending?’’ Respondent’s answer
was false for two reasons: (1) The
Oklahoma Board had previously placed
him on probation, and (2) the California
Board had initiated a proceeding against
him and had adopted the Default
Decision, although the revocation of his
license was not yet ‘‘effective.’’
Respondent knew that his statement
was false with respect to both
proceedings. As to his failure to disclose
the Oklahoma proceeding, Respondent
appeared in person before the Board and
signed the Order Accepting Voluntary
Submittal to Jurisdiction which he had
entered into with the Board. He thus
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
65665
knew that the Oklahoma Board had
placed him on probation.
As for his failure to disclose the
California proceeding, while at the time
he submitted his application, the
revocation of his state license had yet to
go into effect, the Default Decision
specifically noted that Respondent had
been served with the accusation, that
his attorney had filed a response to it,
and that the State had received signed
certified mail receipts establishing that
both he and his attorney had received
the Notice of Hearing. Thus, Respondent
clearly knew that the Medical Board of
California had brought an action against
him which was then ‘‘pending.’’
It is likewise clear that Respondent’s
failure to disclose both proceedings was
a materially false statement under the
CSA. A false statement is material if it
‘‘has a natural tendency to influence, or
was capable of influencing, the decision
of the decisionmaking body to which it
was addressed.’’ Kungys v. United
States, 485 U.S. 759, 770 (1988) (int.
quotation and other citations omitted).
While the evidence must be ‘‘clear,
unequivocal, and convincing,’’ the
‘‘ultimate finding of materiality turns on
a substantive interpretation of the law.’’
Id. at 772 (int. quotations and citations
omitted). See also Craig H. Bammer, 73
FR 34327, 34328 (2008). However, ‘‘[i]t
makes no difference that a specific
falsification did not exert influence so
long as it had the capacity to do so.’’
United States v. Alemany Rivera, 781
F.2d 229, 234 (1st Cir. 1985).
Respondent’s false statement was
material because, under the public
interest standard, the Agency is required
to consider, inter alia, an applicant’s
experience in dispensing controlled
substances and his compliance with
applicable state and federal laws related
to controlled substances. See 21 U.S.C.
823(f)(2) & (4). As found above, both
Boards’ actions were based on
Respondent’s prescribing of various
controlled substances including
meperidine (a schedule II controlled
substance), testosterone and
hydrocodone (schedule III controlled
substances), and diazepam and
alprazolam (schedule IV controlled
substances) without establishing a valid
physician-patient relationship and
without a legitimate medical purpose. In
addition, Respondent issued fraudulent
diazepam prescriptions in the name of
his employee in order to obtain the
drugs for his own use (whether he
personally used them or sold them is
legally irrelevant). Not only did these
prescribings violate Oklahoma law (and
provide grounds for discipline under
California law), as explained more fully
below, they also violated the
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
65666
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices
prescription requirement of Federal law.
See 21 CFR 1306.04(a) (‘‘A prescription
for a controlled substance to be effective
must be issued for a legitimate medical
purpose by an individual practitioner
acting in the usual course of his
professional practice.’’). See also 21
U.S.C. 841(a)(1) (prohibiting knowing or
intentional distribution/dispensing of a
controlled substance ‘‘[e]xcept as
authorized by’’ the CSA); 21 U.S.C.
843(a)(3) (‘‘It shall be unlawful for any
person knowingly or intentionally
* * * to acquire or obtain possession of
a controlled substance by
misrepresentation, fraud, forgery,
deception, or subterfuge[.]’’).
Because both the Oklahoma and
California Board proceedings were
based on his unlawful prescribing of
controlled substances, his failure to
disclose the proceedings on his
application clearly had the capacity to
influence (and did influence) the
Agency’s decision to grant his July 2008
application. I therefore hold that
Respondent’s failure to disclose the
Oklahoma and California proceedings
was a material falsification of his
application; this conclusion provides
reason alone to revoke his registration
and to deny his application to modify
his registration. See 21 U.S.C. 824(a)(1).
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
The Public Interest Allegations
Factors Two and Four—Respondent’s
Experience in Dispensing Controlled
Substances and Compliance With State
and Federal Laws Related to Controlled
Substances
As noted above, the Oklahoma Board
found that, on multiple occasions,
Respondent prescribed various
controlled substances in schedules II
through IV including Demerol
(meperidine), hydrocodone (including
both Histinex and Coughtuss),
testosterone, Fiorinal with codeine, and
alprazolam, to persons he had not
physically examined prior to issuing the
prescriptions. The Board further found
that Respondent did not establish a
valid physician-patient relationship
with these persons, that he did not
establish that these persons had a
legitimate medical need for the
controlled substances, and that he failed
to maintain complete and accurate
records of the controlled substances he
prescribed. The Board also found that
Respondent had issued diazepam
prescriptions in the name of his
employee (again without establishing a
valid doctor-patient relationship and a
legitimate medical need for the
prescription) and directed the employee
to fill the prescription and bring it back
to the office.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:09 Oct 25, 2010
Jkt 223001
The Oklahoma Board further found
that in issuing these prescriptions
Respondent violated various provisions
of state law including, inter alia,
prohibitions against prescribing
‘‘without sufficient examination and the
establishment of a valid physician
patient relationship,’’ 59 Okla. Stat.
§ 509(12); ‘‘[e]ngag[ing] in
indiscriminate or excessive prescribing
* * * of controlled substances,’’ Okla.
Admin Code 435:10–7–4(1); prescribing
a controlled substance ‘‘without medical
need in accordance with published
standards,’’ 59 Okla. Stat. § 509(16);
writing false prescriptions for controlled
substances, id. § 509(11); and
prescribing controlled substances for his
‘‘personal use.’’ Okla. Admin. Code
435:10–7–4(5).
Both the Oklahoma Board’s factual
findings and its legal conclusions that
Respondent violated state law are
entitled to preclusive effect in this
proceeding. See University of Tennessee
v. Elliot, 478 U.S. 788, 797–98 (1986)
(‘‘When an administrative agency is
acting in a judicial capacity and resolves
disputed issues of fact properly before it
which the parties have had an adequate
opportunity to litigate, the courts have
not hesitated to apply res judicata’’) (int.
quotations and citations omitted). I
therefore adopt the Board’s findings that
Respondent violated Oklahoma law and
regulations with respect to his
prescribing to DWW, JWW, and JOW, of
those drugs which are controlled under
Federal law.
I further hold that Respondent
repeatedly violated Federal law when
he prescribed controlled substances to
these individuals. As noted above,
under a longstanding Federal regulation,
‘‘[a] prescription for a controlled
substance to be effective must be issued
for a legitimate medical purpose by an
individual practitioner acting in the
usual course of his professional
practice.’’ 21 CFR 1306.04(a).
As the Supreme Court recently
explained, ‘‘the prescription
requirement * * * ensures patients use
controlled substances under the
supervision of a doctor so as to prevent
addiction and recreational abuse. As a
corollary, [it] also bars doctors from
peddling to patients who crave the
drugs for those prohibited uses.’’
Gonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243, 274
(2006) (citing United States v. Moore,
423 U.S. 122, 135, 143 (1975)).
Under the CSA, ‘‘it is fundamental
that a practitioner must establish a bona
fide doctor-patient relationship in order
to act ‘in the usual course of * * *
professional practice’ and to issue a
prescription for a ‘legitimate medical
purpose,’ ’’ as required by 21 CFR
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1306.04(a). Patrick W. Stodola, 74 FR
20727, 20731 (2009) (citing Moore, 423
U.S. at 141–43. The CSA generally looks
to state law to determine ‘‘whether a
doctor and patient have established a
bona fide patient relationship.’’ Id.; see
also Kamir Garces-Mejias, 72 FR 54931,
54935 (2007); United Prescription
Services, Inc., 72 FR 50397, 50407
(2007).
The Oklahoma Board found that
Respondent did not establish a ‘‘valid
physician patient relationship’’ with
JWW, DWW and JOW, and that he did
not establish that these individuals had
a legitimate medical need for the
prescriptions. Accordingly, I hold that
in prescribing to these persons,
Respondent acted outside of the usual
course of professional practice and
lacked a legitimate medical purpose and
therefore violated Federal law as well.
See 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1); 21 CFR
1306.04(a). I further hold that
Respondent violated Federal law when
he acquired diazepam by issuing
fraudulent prescriptions to JOW and
directed the latter to fill the
prescriptions and bring them back to the
office. See 21 U.S.C. § 843(a)(3).
As the forgoing demonstrates,
Respondent’s experience in dispensing
controlled substance and his record of
compliance with applicable laws is
characterized by his numerous
violations of both State and Federal
drug laws.3 I therefore hold that
Respondent has committed acts which
render his registration ‘‘inconsistent
with the public interest.’’ Id. § 824(a)(4).
This conclusion provides an
independent ground (apart from his
material falsification) to revoke his
registration and to deny his application
to modify his registration.
3 While the Oklahoma Board placed Respondent
on probation, it made no recommendation in this
matter (factor one). Moreover, even were I to deem
the Board’s decision to continue Respondent’s
medical license as a recommendation, the Board’s
decision is not dispositive. While holding authority
under state law is a necessary prerequisite to
obtaining a DEA registration, see 21 U.S.C. 823(f),
DEA has long held that ‘‘the Controlled Substances
Act requires that the Administrator * * * make an
independent determination as to whether the
granting of controlled substances privileges would
be in the public interest.’’ Mortimer Levin, 57 FR
8680 (1992). Of course, the California Board
revoked Respondent’s California license based on
the same conduct.
It is also acknowledged that Respondent has not
been convicted of either a State or Federal offense
related to the distribution or dispensing of
controlled substances (factor three). However, the
absence of a criminal conviction is not dispositive
of the public interest inquiry. See, e.g., Jayam
Krishna-Iyer, 74 FR 459, 461 (2009); Edmund Chein,
72 FR 6580, 6593 n.22 (2007).
In light of the extensive evidence under factors
two and four, I conclude that there is no need to
make findings under factor five.
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 26, 2010 / Notices
Lincoln Pharmacy; Revocation of
Registration
prescriptions totaling 540 dosage units
of Roxicodone (30 mg.) for $975 in cash;
(2) on January 21, 2010, it filled one
prescription totaling 120 dosage units of
oxycodone (30 mg.) for $215 in cash;
and (3) on January 28, 2010, it filled two
prescriptions totaling 360 tablets of
oxycodone for $650 in cash. Id. at 1–2.
Based on the above, I concluded that
Respondent’s ‘‘continued registration
during the pendency of these
proceedings would constitute an
imminent danger to the public health
and safety.’’ Id. at 2. I therefore
exercised my authority under 21 U.S.C.
824(d) and immediately suspended
Respondent’s registration. Id.
On April 6, 2010, the Order, which
also notified Respondent of its right to
request a hearing on the allegations or
to submit a written statement in lieu of
a hearing, the procedures for doing so,
and the consequence of failing to do so,
was served on it. Id. at 2–3 (citing 21
CFR 1301.43(a), (c), (d) & (e)). Since that
time, neither Respondent, nor anyone
purporting to represent it, has either
requested a hearing or submitted a
written statement in lieu of a hearing.
Thirty days now having passed since
the Order was served on Respondent, I
conclude that Respondent has waived
its right to a hearing. See 21 CFR
1301.43(b) & (d). I therefore issue this
Decision and Final Order based on the
evidence contained in the investigative
record submitted by the Government. Id.
1301.43(e). I make the following
findings.
On March 26, 2010, I, the Deputy
Administrator of the Drug Enforcement
Administration, issued an Order to
Show Cause and Immediate Suspension
of Registration (Order) to Lincoln
Pharmacy (Respondent), of Edison, New
Jersey. The Order proposed the
revocation of Respondent’s DEA
Certificate of Registration, BL4082222,
and the denial of any pending
applications to renew or modify its
registration, on the ground that
Respondent’s ‘‘continued registration is
inconsistent with the public interest.’’
Order at 1 (citing 21 U.S.C. 823(f) &
824(a)(4)).
The Order alleged that Respondent
‘‘routinely filled fraudulent
prescriptions for highly addictive and
abused controlled substances’’ and
therefore violated 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1)
and 21 CFR 1306.04. Id. More
specifically, the Order alleged that
Respondent had filled six fraudulent
prescriptions for Roxicodone and
oxycodone, which are schedule II
controlled substances, in exchange for
cash on multiple occasions to wit: (1)
On January 14, 2010, it filled three
Findings
Respondent is a retail pharmacy
located at 52 Lincoln Highway, Edison,
New Jersey, which is owned and
operated by Mr. Vincent Hsia, a
registered pharmacist. Respondent is the
holder of Certificate of Registration,
BL4082222, which authorizes it to
dispense controlled substances in
schedules II through V as a retail
pharmacy. Respondent’s registration
does not expire until March 31, 2012.
On January 14, 2010, at shortly after
7 p.m., a cooperating source (CS) went
to Respondent and presented three
prescriptions to Mr. Hsia. Each of the
prescriptions was for 180 tablets of
Roxicodone (oxycodone) 30 mg.,
contained dosing instructions, stated
‘‘chronic intractable pain,’’ and was
signed. While it is unclear whether the
prescriptions the CS presented
contained a patient name, the evidence
which includes three cash-register
receipts, the vials and the drugs, shows
that at approximately 7:17 through 7:22
p.m., Hsia delivered the three vials,
each containing 180 tablets of
Roxicodone 30 mg. (for a total of 540
Conclusion
The investigative record shows that
Respondent materially falsified his July
2008 application and that he repeatedly
prescribed controlled substances in
violation of both Oklahoma and Federal
law. The record thus establishes two
independent and adequate grounds for
revoking Respondent’s registration and
denying his application to modify his
registration. Accordingly, Respondent’s
registration will be revoked and his
application will be denied.
Order
Pursuant to the authority vested in me
by 21 U.S.C. 823(f) & 824(a), as well as
28 CFR 0.100(b) & 0.104, I order that
DEA Certificate of Registration,
AJ6783535, issued to Gilbert Eugene
Johnson, M.D., be, and it hereby is,
revoked. I further order that the pending
application of Gilbert Eugene Johnson,
M.D., to modify his registration, be, and
it hereby is, denied. This Order is
effective November 26, 2010.
Dated: October 14, 2010.
Michele M. Leonhart,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010–27028 Filed 10–25–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–09–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Drug Enforcement Administration
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:09 Oct 25, 2010
Jkt 223001
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
65667
tablets), to the CS and charged him $325
in cash for each vial for a total of $975.
The prescriptions listed the patients as
Chris DiMarco of Clark, NJ; Rudy Lore,
also purportedly of Clark; and Paul
Smith of Rahway, NJ.
On January 21, 2010, at 7:45 p.m., the
CS returned to Respondent and
presented a prescription for 180 tablets
of oxycodone 30 mg. This prescription
listed the patient as Michael Williams of
Newark, NJ. According to the transcript
of a recording of the CS’s conversation
with Mr. Hsia, at one point the CS
asked: ‘‘Quick questions. Since I’m
moving [expletive deleted] moving these
things really fast, is there any way you
could write for more than 180? There
isn’t, right?’’ Hsia replied: ‘‘I don’t really
even like filling for 180.’’ The CS then
mentioned that an associate had told
him that ‘‘you could get 240 all the time
or somethin[g].’’ Hsia replied: ‘‘I can’t
even give you 180. I have to give you
120. Cause it doesn’t say chronic
intractable pain.’’ Hsia subsequently
distributed 120 tablets of oxycodone 30
mg. to the CS.
On January 27, 2010, the CS called
Hsia to ask him what phrase needed to
be on the prescription to justify
dispensing the larger quantity. Hsia told
him ‘‘chronic intractable pain.’’ The
following day, the CS returned to
Respondent and presented two more
prescriptions for 180 tablets of
oxycodone 30 mg. which appear to have
included the notation of ‘‘chronic
intractable pain.’’ One of the
prescriptions listed the patient as Paul
Fusatola of Belleville, NJ; the other as
Rachel Billis of Nutley, NJ. The CS paid
$325 in cash for each prescription and
Hsia distributed two vials, each
containing 180 tablets of oxycodone 30
mg., to the CS.
Discussion
Section 304(a) of the Controlled
Substances Act provides that ‘‘[a]
registration * * * to * * * dispense a
controlled substance * * * may be
suspended or revoked by the Attorney
General upon a finding that the
registrant * * * has committed such
acts as would render his registration
under section 823 of this title
inconsistent with the public interest as
determined under such section.’’ 21
U.S.C. 824(a)(4). In determining the
public interest in the case of a
practitioner, the Act directs that the
Attorney General consider the following
factors:
(1) The recommendation of the appropriate
State licensing board or professional
disciplinary authority.
(2) The applicant’s experience in
dispensing * * * controlled substances.
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65663-65667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27028]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Drug Enforcement Administration
Gilbert Eugene Johnson, M.D.; Revocation of Registration
On November 20, 2008, the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of
Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, issued an Order to
Show Cause to Gilbert Eugene Johnson, M.D. (Respondent), of Idabel,
Oklahoma. The Show Cause Order proposed the revocation of Respondent's
DEA Certificate of Registration, AJ6783535, as a practitioner, and the
denial of any pending applications to renew or modify his registration,
on the ground that Respondent's ``continued registration is
inconsistent with the public interest, as that term is used in 21
U.S.C. 823(f).'' Show Cause Order at 1.
The Show Cause Order alleged that the Oklahoma State Board of
Medical Licensure had found that: (1) Respondent ``prescribed or
administered a drug (i.e., meperidine, a schedule II controlled
substance, and hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance) or
treatment without sufficient examination or the establishment of a
valid physician patient relationship''; (2) Respondent ``engaged in
indiscriminate or excessive prescribing, dispensing or administering of
controlled or narcotic drugs''; and (3) Respondent ``prescribed,
dispensed or administered controlled substances or narcotic drugs in
excess of the amount considered good medical practice or prescribed,
dispensed or administered controlled substances or narcotic drugs
without medical need.'' Id. at 1-2.
Next, the Show Cause Order alleged that on June 23, 2008, based on
the Oklahoma Board's action, the Medical Board of California ``ordered
the revocation of [Respondent's] license to practice medicine in that
state, effective July 23, 2008.'' Id. at 2. Finally, the Order alleged
that on July 7, 2008, Respondent ``falsified'' his application for
renewal of his DEA registration ``by answering `no' to the question
concerning whether [Respondent] had ever had a state professional
license revoked or placed on probation or whether any such action was
pending.'' Id.
On December 16, 2008, the Show Cause Order was served on Respondent
by certified mail to him at the address which he had recently given the
Agency as his new registered location on his application to modify his
registration. On January 29, 2009, Respondent's counsel filed a request
for a hearing and the matter was placed on the docket of the Agency's
Administrative Law Judges (ALJs).
Thereafter, the ALJ requested that the parties address whether
Respondent had timely requested a hearing. See Corrected Order
Cancelling Hearing and Terminating Proceedings, at 1. Following receipt
of the parties' submissions, the ALJ found that Respondent's request
was not timely because it was not filed within 30 days of service of
the Show Cause Order as required by 21 CFR 1301.43(a). Id. at 2.
Because Respondent had not ``provide[d] a basis upon which to find good
cause,'' the ALJ held that his failure to file a timely request
constituted a waiver of his right to a hearing. Id. (citing 21 CFR
1301.43(d) and Brinton D. Glisson, 72 FR 54296 (2007)). Accordingly,
the ALJ canceled the scheduled hearing, terminated the proceedings, and
directed that the
[[Page 65664]]
matter be forwarded to me for final agency action pursuant to 21 CFR
1301.43(d) and 1301.46.
Thereafter, the Government forwarded the investigative record to me
for final agency action. Having considered the record, I agree with the
ALJ's finding that Respondent has waived his right to a hearing because
he failed to timely file his request and has not offered good cause for
his failure to do so. I further find that Respondent materially
falsified his July 2008 application and that he has committed acts
which render his registration inconsistent with the public interest. 21
U.S.C. 823(f) & 824(a)(1) & (4). Accordingly, Respondent's registration
will be revoked and his pending application to modify his registration
will be denied. I make the following findings.
Findings
Respondent previously held DEA registration, AJ6783535. While this
registration expired on December 31, 2007, on July 9, 2008, Respondent
submitted a renewal application and the registration was reinstated
with an expiration date of December 31, 2010. Moreover, on December 11,
2008, Respondent requested to change the address of his registered
location. I therefore find that Respondent has a registration and that
his application to modify his registration is pending before the
Agency.
On March 22, 2007, Respondent and the Oklahoma Board of State
Medical Licensure and Supervision (Oklahoma Board) entered into an
Order Accepting Voluntary Submittal to Jurisdiction (hereinafter,
Order). Therein, Respondent pled guilty to the allegations in a
Complaint and Citation which the Oklahoma Board had filed on January
27, 2007.
In the Order, the Oklahoma Board found that Respondent treated
another physician, DWW, from around January 2004 through July 2006.
During this period, Respondent issued ``two (2) prescriptions for
Meperidine, a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance * * * six (6)
prescriptions for Testosterone and Hydrocodone, both Schedule III
controlled dangerous substances * * * and twelve (12) prescriptions for
Alprazolam, Soma, and But/Apap/Caf, Schedule IV controlled dangerous
substances.'' \1\ Order at 2, Oklahoma ex rel. Bd. of Medical Licensure
& Supervision v. Johnson (Okla. Bd. of Med. Lic. & Super. Mar. 22,
2007). Respondent issued these prescriptions without ``perform[ing] any
physical examination on DWW'' and without establishing either ``a valid
physician patient relationship'' or ``a legitimate medical need for the
medical treatment.'' Id. In addition, he ``failed to maintain complete
and accurate records of all controlled dangerous drugs prescribed.''
Id. When questioned by an Oklahoma Board investigator, Respondent
admitted that he did not keep a patient record on DWW. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Neither Soma (carisoprodol) nor But/Apap/Caf is a controlled
substance under Federal law. However, the other drugs noted in the
Board's order are controlled under Federal law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Oklahoma Board also found that Respondent treated JWW, DWW's
wife, from around November 2004 through February 2005. Id. at 3.
Respondent issued to JWW, ``one (1) prescription for Demerol, a
Schedule II controlled dangerous substance[,] * * * one (1)
prescription for Histinex HC, a Schedule III controlled dangerous
substance, and six (6) prescriptions for Alprazolam and But/Apap/Caf,
Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances.'' Id. As in the case of
DWW, Respondent issued these prescriptions to JWW without
``perform[ing] any physical examination'' and without establishing ``a
valid physician patient relationship'' or ``a legitimate medical need
for the medical treatment.'' Id. Again, Respondent failed to ``maintain
complete and accurate records of all controlled dangerous substances
prescribed'' and admitted to an Oklahoma Board investigator that he did
not see JWW ``as a patient.'' Id.
The Oklahoma Board further found that on two occasions, Respondent
issued prescriptions to JOW, one of his employees, for ``Diazepam, a
Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance''; the Board also found that
on another occasion, he issued prescriptions for ``Fiorinal w/Codeine
and Coughtuss, Schedule III controlled dangerous substances.'' Id. at
3. As to these prescriptions, the Board found that ``he failed to
perform any physical examination on JOW prior to prescribing the
controlled dangerous drugs in her name, that he did not establish a
valid physician patient relationship prior to prescribing the
medications, that he did not establish a legitimate medical need for
the medical treatment, and that he failed to maintain complete and
accurate records of all controlled dangerous drugs prescribed.'' Id.
Furthermore, the Board found that Respondent instructed JOW to fill the
diazepam prescriptions at City Drug and then return them to him for
``office use.'' Id.
The Oklahoma Board then found Respondent guilty of ``unprofessional
conduct'' based on his violations of numerous provisions of state law
and regulations. Id. at 4. The Board found, inter alia, that he: (1)
``[p]rescribed or administered a drug or treatment without sufficient
examination and the establishment of a valid physician patient
relationship,'' in violation of 59 Okla. Stat. Sec. 509(12); (2)
``[e]ngaged in indiscriminate or excessive prescribing * * * of
controlled or narcotic drugs,'' in violation of Okla. Admin. Code
435:10-7-4(1); (3) ``[v]iolated * * * state or federal law or
regulation relating to controlled substances,'' in violation of Okla.
Admin. Code 435:10-7-4(27); (4) ``[p]rescribed * * * controlled
substances or narcotic drugs in excess of the amount considered good
medical practice or prescribed * * * controlled substances or narcotic
drugs without medical need in accordance with published standards,'' in
violation of 59 Okla. Stat. Sec. 509(16) and Okla. Admin. Code 435:10-
7-4(2); 5) ``[w]rote a false or fictitious prescription for any drugs
or narcotics declared by the laws of [Oklahoma] to be controlled or
narcotic drugs,'' in violation of 59 Okla. Stat. Sec. 509(11); and 6)
``[p]urchased or prescribed any regulated substance in Schedule I
through V, as defined by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances
Act, for the physician's personal use,'' in violation of Okla. Admin.
Code 435:10-7-4(5). Id. at 4-5.
Based on its findings, the Oklahoma Board reprimanded Respondent.
The Board also placed Respondent's medical license on probation for one
year, beginning March 22, 2007, subject to certain conditions including
that he could not call in any controlled-substance prescriptions, that
he complete board-approved courses in controlled substance prescribing
and recordkeeping, and that he maintain duplicate, serially-numbered
prescriptions of controlled substances, which are readily retrievable
and which must be provided on request to the Board's investigators. Id.
at 7.
On June 23, 2008, the Medical Board of California (California
Board) adopted a Default Decision and Order in a proceeding against
Respondent's California license. See Decision at 1, In re Gilbert E.
Johnson, M.D. (Med. Bd. Cal. 2008). In the Default decision, the Board
found that Respondent had been served with the accusation on September
25, 2007, and that his attorney had filed a response. Default Decision
and Order at 1. The Board also noted that Respondent and his attorney
had been served with a Notice of Hearing, which informed him of the
scheduled date of the hearing, but that neither Respondent, nor his
attorney, had appeared. Id.
[[Page 65665]]
Based on the findings of the Oklahoma Board, the California Board
concluded that Respondent had committed unprofessional conduct by,
inter alia, prescribing controlled substances ``to several individuals
without a prior physical examination, without a valid physician-patient
relationship, without establishing a medical need for the treatment,
and without maintaining complete and accurate records.'' Id. at 2-3.
The California Board further found that Respondent had committed
unprofessional conduct when he issued the controlled substance
prescriptions in the name of his employee, ``without a prior physical
examination or medical indications, and without maintaining an adequate
medical record, and directed the employee to fill the prescriptions and
then return the drugs to respondent.'' Id. at 3. The Board then revoked
Respondent's California medical license, effective July 23, 2008.
Decision at 1.
On July 7, 2008, Respondent completed and signed his renewal
application for his DEA registration.\2\ In section 4 of the
application, Respondent was required to answer four ``liability''
questions. The third of these asked: ``Has the applicant ever
surrendered (for cause) or had a state professional license or
controlled substance registration revoked, suspended, denied,
restricted, or placed on probation, or is any such action pending?''
(emphasis added). Respondent answered ``No.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The form is stamped with the filing date of July 9, 2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discussion
Section 304(a)(1) of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) provides
that a registration ``may be suspended or revoked by the Attorney
General upon a finding that the registrant * * * has materially
falsified any application pursuant to or required by this subchapter.''
21 U.S.C. 824(a)(1). Section 304(a)(4) also provides that a
registration to ``dispense a controlled substance * * * may be
suspended or revoked by the Attorney General upon a finding that the
registrant * * * has committed such acts as would render his
registration under section 823 of this title inconsistent with the
public interest as determined under such section.'' 21 U.S.C.
824(a)(4). With respect to a practitioner, the CSA requires that the
following factors be considered in making the public interest
determination:
(1) The recommendation of the appropriate State licensing board or
professional disciplinary authority.
(2) The [registrant's] experience in dispensing * * * controlled
substances.
(3) The [registrant's] conviction record under Federal or State
laws relating to the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of
controlled substances.
(4) Compliance with applicable State, Federal, or local laws
relating to controlled substances.
(5) Such other conduct which may threaten the public health and
safety.21 U.S.C. 823(f).
``[T]hese factors * * * are considered in the disjunctive.'' Robert
A. Leslie, 68 FR 15227, 15230 (2003). I may rely on any one or a
combination of factors and give each factor the weight I deem
appropriate in determining whether to revoke an existing registration
or to deny an application to modify a registration. Id. Moreover, I am
``not required to make findings as to all of the factors.'' Morall v.
DEA, 412 F.3d 165, 173-74 (D.C. Cir. 2005); see also Volkman v. DEA,
567 F.3d 215, 222 (6th Cir. 2009).
Having considered the evidence, I conclude that the record provides
two independent grounds to evoke Respondent's registration and to deny
his pending application to modify his registration. First, Respondent
materially falsified his July 2008 application when he answered ``no''
to the question whether he had ever had a state licensed sanctioned or
if any such action was pending. Second, based on the Oklahoma Board's
findings regarding his prescribing of controlled substances, I conclude
that Respondent has committed acts which render his registration
inconsistent with the public interest.
The Material Falsification Allegation
As found above, on his July 7, 2008 application, Respondent
provided a ``no'' answer to the question: ``Has the applicant ever
surrendered (for cause) or had a state professional license or
controlled substance registration revoked, suspended, denied,
restricted, or placed on probation, or is any such action pending?''
Respondent's answer was false for two reasons: (1) The Oklahoma Board
had previously placed him on probation, and (2) the California Board
had initiated a proceeding against him and had adopted the Default
Decision, although the revocation of his license was not yet
``effective.''
Respondent knew that his statement was false with respect to both
proceedings. As to his failure to disclose the Oklahoma proceeding,
Respondent appeared in person before the Board and signed the Order
Accepting Voluntary Submittal to Jurisdiction which he had entered into
with the Board. He thus knew that the Oklahoma Board had placed him on
probation.
As for his failure to disclose the California proceeding, while at
the time he submitted his application, the revocation of his state
license had yet to go into effect, the Default Decision specifically
noted that Respondent had been served with the accusation, that his
attorney had filed a response to it, and that the State had received
signed certified mail receipts establishing that both he and his
attorney had received the Notice of Hearing. Thus, Respondent clearly
knew that the Medical Board of California had brought an action against
him which was then ``pending.''
It is likewise clear that Respondent's failure to disclose both
proceedings was a materially false statement under the CSA. A false
statement is material if it ``has a natural tendency to influence, or
was capable of influencing, the decision of the decisionmaking body to
which it was addressed.'' Kungys v. United States, 485 U.S. 759, 770
(1988) (int. quotation and other citations omitted). While the evidence
must be ``clear, unequivocal, and convincing,'' the ``ultimate finding
of materiality turns on a substantive interpretation of the law.'' Id.
at 772 (int. quotations and citations omitted). See also Craig H.
Bammer, 73 FR 34327, 34328 (2008). However, ``[i]t makes no difference
that a specific falsification did not exert influence so long as it had
the capacity to do so.'' United States v. Alemany Rivera, 781 F.2d 229,
234 (1st Cir. 1985).
Respondent's false statement was material because, under the public
interest standard, the Agency is required to consider, inter alia, an
applicant's experience in dispensing controlled substances and his
compliance with applicable state and federal laws related to controlled
substances. See 21 U.S.C. 823(f)(2) & (4). As found above, both Boards'
actions were based on Respondent's prescribing of various controlled
substances including meperidine (a schedule II controlled substance),
testosterone and hydrocodone (schedule III controlled substances), and
diazepam and alprazolam (schedule IV controlled substances) without
establishing a valid physician-patient relationship and without a
legitimate medical purpose. In addition, Respondent issued fraudulent
diazepam prescriptions in the name of his employee in order to obtain
the drugs for his own use (whether he personally used them or sold them
is legally irrelevant). Not only did these prescribings violate
Oklahoma law (and provide grounds for discipline under California law),
as explained more fully below, they also violated the
[[Page 65666]]
prescription requirement of Federal law. See 21 CFR 1306.04(a) (``A
prescription for a controlled substance to be effective must be issued
for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting
in the usual course of his professional practice.''). See also 21
U.S.C. 841(a)(1) (prohibiting knowing or intentional distribution/
dispensing of a controlled substance ``[e]xcept as authorized by'' the
CSA); 21 U.S.C. 843(a)(3) (``It shall be unlawful for any person
knowingly or intentionally * * * to acquire or obtain possession of a
controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception,
or subterfuge[.]'').
Because both the Oklahoma and California Board proceedings were
based on his unlawful prescribing of controlled substances, his failure
to disclose the proceedings on his application clearly had the capacity
to influence (and did influence) the Agency's decision to grant his
July 2008 application. I therefore hold that Respondent's failure to
disclose the Oklahoma and California proceedings was a material
falsification of his application; this conclusion provides reason alone
to revoke his registration and to deny his application to modify his
registration. See 21 U.S.C. 824(a)(1).
The Public Interest Allegations
Factors Two and Four--Respondent's Experience in Dispensing Controlled
Substances and Compliance With State and Federal Laws Related to
Controlled Substances
As noted above, the Oklahoma Board found that, on multiple
occasions, Respondent prescribed various controlled substances in
schedules II through IV including Demerol (meperidine), hydrocodone
(including both Histinex and Coughtuss), testosterone, Fiorinal with
codeine, and alprazolam, to persons he had not physically examined
prior to issuing the prescriptions. The Board further found that
Respondent did not establish a valid physician-patient relationship
with these persons, that he did not establish that these persons had a
legitimate medical need for the controlled substances, and that he
failed to maintain complete and accurate records of the controlled
substances he prescribed. The Board also found that Respondent had
issued diazepam prescriptions in the name of his employee (again
without establishing a valid doctor-patient relationship and a
legitimate medical need for the prescription) and directed the employee
to fill the prescription and bring it back to the office.
The Oklahoma Board further found that in issuing these
prescriptions Respondent violated various provisions of state law
including, inter alia, prohibitions against prescribing ``without
sufficient examination and the establishment of a valid physician
patient relationship,'' 59 Okla. Stat. Sec. 509(12); ``[e]ngag[ing] in
indiscriminate or excessive prescribing * * * of controlled
substances,'' Okla. Admin Code 435:10-7-4(1); prescribing a controlled
substance ``without medical need in accordance with published
standards,'' 59 Okla. Stat. Sec. 509(16); writing false prescriptions
for controlled substances, id. Sec. 509(11); and prescribing
controlled substances for his ``personal use.'' Okla. Admin. Code
435:10-7-4(5).
Both the Oklahoma Board's factual findings and its legal
conclusions that Respondent violated state law are entitled to
preclusive effect in this proceeding. See University of Tennessee v.
Elliot, 478 U.S. 788, 797-98 (1986) (``When an administrative agency is
acting in a judicial capacity and resolves disputed issues of fact
properly before it which the parties have had an adequate opportunity
to litigate, the courts have not hesitated to apply res judicata'')
(int. quotations and citations omitted). I therefore adopt the Board's
findings that Respondent violated Oklahoma law and regulations with
respect to his prescribing to DWW, JWW, and JOW, of those drugs which
are controlled under Federal law.
I further hold that Respondent repeatedly violated Federal law when
he prescribed controlled substances to these individuals. As noted
above, under a longstanding Federal regulation, ``[a] prescription for
a controlled substance to be effective must be issued for a legitimate
medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the usual
course of his professional practice.'' 21 CFR 1306.04(a).
As the Supreme Court recently explained, ``the prescription
requirement * * * ensures patients use controlled substances under the
supervision of a doctor so as to prevent addiction and recreational
abuse. As a corollary, [it] also bars doctors from peddling to patients
who crave the drugs for those prohibited uses.'' Gonzales v. Oregon,
546 U.S. 243, 274 (2006) (citing United States v. Moore, 423 U.S. 122,
135, 143 (1975)).
Under the CSA, ``it is fundamental that a practitioner must
establish a bona fide doctor-patient relationship in order to act `in
the usual course of * * * professional practice' and to issue a
prescription for a `legitimate medical purpose,' '' as required by 21
CFR 1306.04(a). Patrick W. Stodola, 74 FR 20727, 20731 (2009) (citing
Moore, 423 U.S. at 141-43. The CSA generally looks to state law to
determine ``whether a doctor and patient have established a bona fide
patient relationship.'' Id.; see also Kamir Garces-Mejias, 72 FR 54931,
54935 (2007); United Prescription Services, Inc., 72 FR 50397, 50407
(2007).
The Oklahoma Board found that Respondent did not establish a
``valid physician patient relationship'' with JWW, DWW and JOW, and
that he did not establish that these individuals had a legitimate
medical need for the prescriptions. Accordingly, I hold that in
prescribing to these persons, Respondent acted outside of the usual
course of professional practice and lacked a legitimate medical purpose
and therefore violated Federal law as well. See 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1); 21
CFR 1306.04(a). I further hold that Respondent violated Federal law
when he acquired diazepam by issuing fraudulent prescriptions to JOW
and directed the latter to fill the prescriptions and bring them back
to the office. See 21 U.S.C. Sec. 843(a)(3).
As the forgoing demonstrates, Respondent's experience in dispensing
controlled substance and his record of compliance with applicable laws
is characterized by his numerous violations of both State and Federal
drug laws.\3\ I therefore hold that Respondent has committed acts which
render his registration ``inconsistent with the public interest.'' Id.
Sec. 824(a)(4). This conclusion provides an independent ground (apart
from his material falsification) to revoke his registration and to deny
his application to modify his registration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ While the Oklahoma Board placed Respondent on probation, it
made no recommendation in this matter (factor one). Moreover, even
were I to deem the Board's decision to continue Respondent's medical
license as a recommendation, the Board's decision is not
dispositive. While holding authority under state law is a necessary
prerequisite to obtaining a DEA registration, see 21 U.S.C. 823(f),
DEA has long held that ``the Controlled Substances Act requires that
the Administrator * * * make an independent determination as to
whether the granting of controlled substances privileges would be in
the public interest.'' Mortimer Levin, 57 FR 8680 (1992). Of course,
the California Board revoked Respondent's California license based
on the same conduct.
It is also acknowledged that Respondent has not been convicted
of either a State or Federal offense related to the distribution or
dispensing of controlled substances (factor three). However, the
absence of a criminal conviction is not dispositive of the public
interest inquiry. See, e.g., Jayam Krishna-Iyer, 74 FR 459, 461
(2009); Edmund Chein, 72 FR 6580, 6593 n.22 (2007).
In light of the extensive evidence under factors two and four, I
conclude that there is no need to make findings under factor five.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 65667]]
Conclusion
The investigative record shows that Respondent materially falsified
his July 2008 application and that he repeatedly prescribed controlled
substances in violation of both Oklahoma and Federal law. The record
thus establishes two independent and adequate grounds for revoking
Respondent's registration and denying his application to modify his
registration. Accordingly, Respondent's registration will be revoked
and his application will be denied.
Order
Pursuant to the authority vested in me by 21 U.S.C. 823(f) &
824(a), as well as 28 CFR 0.100(b) & 0.104, I order that DEA
Certificate of Registration, AJ6783535, issued to Gilbert Eugene
Johnson, M.D., be, and it hereby is, revoked. I further order that the
pending application of Gilbert Eugene Johnson, M.D., to modify his
registration, be, and it hereby is, denied. This Order is effective
November 26, 2010.
Dated: October 14, 2010.
Michele M. Leonhart,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-27028 Filed 10-25-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-09-P