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State Senate Panel Urges Crackdown on Bad Docs

Oct. 07, 2011 | WMFE - A Florida Senate subcommittee, that normally only listens to budget requests, diverted its attention to another matter Thursday. After an update from the state Department of Health, some lawmakers say they want to give the agency more authority to stop physicians from practicing while they are under investigation.

Members of the Budget Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations say it’s a statewide problem that many doctors under investigation for serious infractions are still allowed to practice. Republican Senator Ronda Storms of Brandon grew heated when she found out the Board of Medicine has no authority to suspend a physician’s license if they are suspected of crimes, such as using drugs or over-prescribing drugs to patients.

“We do that with teachers, we do it with attorneys, we know a whole host of people.
Storms said. “We say if this is what happens, you’re going to be suspended until you go through the proper proceedings and that’s what we should do on behalf of the public.”

But, committee chairman Senator Mike Fasano, a Republican from New Port Richey, says members are going to look at what they can do legislatively to suspend a doctor’s license. But, the committee can’t do anything as a group because they are only authorized to look into budget issues, not policy changes.

 

 

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