Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF MEDICINE
Respondent: LEE R. MAJKA, P.A.
Judges: CHARLES C. ADAMS
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: Jacksonville, Florida
Filed: Nov. 29, 2000
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, January 8, 2001.
Latest Update: Jan. 09, 2025
STATE OF FLORIDA 9 43 29 PH hi: 56
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH” :
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ) HEARING
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PETITIONER, )
)
" ) CASE NO. 1998-22455
)
LEE R. MAJKA, P.A, ‘
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RESPONDENT. _+)
)
ADMINISTRATIVE NT
COMES NOW the Petitioner, Department of Health, hereinafter referred to as
“Petitioner,” and files this Administrative Complaint before the Board of Medicine against
Lee R. Majka, P.A., hereinafter referred to as “Respondent,” and alleges:
1. Effective July 1, 1997, Petitioner is the state agency charged with
regulating the practice. of medicine pursuant to Section 20.43, Florida Statutes; Chapter
456, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 458, Florida Statutes. Pursuant to the provisions of
Section 20.43(3), Florida Statutes, the Petitioner has contracted with the Agency for
Health Care Administration to provide consumer complaint, investigative, and
prosecutorial services required by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance, councils, or
boards, as appropriate.
2. Respondent is and has been at all times material hereto a licensed
physician assistant in the state of Florida, having been issued license number PA
0002120. _Respondent’s last known address is 6484 Ft. Caroline Road, Jacksonville,
Florida 32277.
3. Patient A.D. was born on or about September 25, 1995, at Baptist Medical
Center (hereinafter “BMC”) in Jacksonville, Florida, at thirty (30) weeks gestation. The
patient was hospitalized for approximately six (6) weeks in the neonatal intensive care
unit before being discharged home with her parents on or about November 9, 1995.
4. On or about November | 14, 1995, Patient A.D. was examined by her
Pediatrician, Dr. Crane, who personally examined the patient and diagnosed her as a
“well baby.”
5. During the evening of on or about November 18, 1995, Patient A.D/s.
parents, T.D. and J.D., phoned Dr. Crane’s office to report that Patient A.D.'s breathing
was erratic and that she had a low temperature of 97 degrees. The time of this call is
not documented in the patient’s medical record.
6. Respondent, the on-call physician assistant in Dr. Crane’s office on or
about November 18, 1995, returned the parents’ telephone call on or about November
18, 1995. Respondent noted that Patient A.D. was premature, and had a temperature
of 97 degrees. He advised the parents that there was no cause for concern, and that it
was not necessary to take Patient A.D. to the emergency room. Respondent did not
document his recommendations, or the time of his return call, in Patient A.D’s medical
record.
7. On or about November 18, 1995, Patient A.D/s parents again called Dr.
Crane's office with concerns regarding Patient A.D’s erratic breathing and low
temperature. Respondent again advised them that there was no cause for concern.
Respondent did not document the second telephone conversation with Patient A.Ds
parents in the patient’s medical record.
8. On or about November 18, 1995, Patient A.D.’s parents, unsatisfied with
Respondent's advice, demanded that Respondent refer their concerns to the on-call
physician, Dr. Laspada. Respondent complied with their request. Dr. Laspada advised
the parents to bring Patient A.D. to the office the following morning.
9. The parents of Patient A.D. advised Dr. Laspada that they were going to
take A.D. to the hospital, and, at approximately 11:23 p.m., Patient A.D. arrived with
her parents at the BMC emergency room. Patient A.D. was admitted to the BMC.
Pediatric Critical Care Unit with a diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (an RNA-
containing virus causing bronchitis and bronchopneumonia in children). As a result of
this illness, Patient A.D. suffered extensive brain damage.
10. A reasonably prudent similar physician assistant would have recognized
that a température of 97 degrees in a neonate requires immediate evaluation, would
have referred the patient to the emergency room for immediate evaluation, and: would
have documented the parents’ calls and his recommendations in the patient's chart.
11. Respondent failed to recognize that Patient A.D’s temperature of 97
degrees required immediate evaluation, failed to refer Patient A.D. to the emergency
room for immediate evaluation, and failed to appropriately document the patient's
complaints and his recommendations in Patient A.D/s chart.
COUNT ONE
12. _ Petitioner realleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1) through eleven
(11), as if fully set forth herein this Count One.
13. Respondent failed to practice medicine with that level of care, skill, and
treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar physician assistant as
being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances in one or more of the
following ways: (1) Respondent failed to recognize that Patient A.D’s temperature of
97 degrees required immediate evaluation; (2) Respondent failed to appropriately
assess Patient A.D.'s complaints and symptoms; and (3) Respondent failed to refer
Patient A.D. to the emergency room for immediate evaluation.
14. Based on the foregoing, Respondent has violated Section 458.331(1)(t),
Florida Statutes, by failing to practice medicine with that level of care, skill, and
treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar physician assistant as
being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances.
NT TWO
15. Petitioner realleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1) through eleven
(11), and paragraph thirteen (13), as if fully set forth herein this Count Two.
16. Respondent failed to keep keep. written medical records justifying the
course of treatment of the patient, including, but not limited to, patient histories;
examination results; test records; records of drugs prescribed, dispensed, or
administered; and reports of consultations and hospitalizations, in that Respondent
failed to appropriately document his contact with Patient A.D.’s parents, the time of the
calls, and his recommendations made via telephone to Patient A.D.s parents regarding
Patient A.D.’s condition on or about November 18, 1995.
17. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 458.331(1)(m),
Florida Statutes, by failing to keep written medical records justifying the course of
treatment of the patient, including, but not limited to, patient histories; examination
results; test records; records of drugs prescribed, dispensed, or administered; and
reports of consultations and hospitalizations.
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner respectfully requests the Board of Medicine enter an.
order imposing one or more of the following penalties: permanent revocation or
suspension of the Respondent's license, restriction of the Respondent's practice,
imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand, placement of the
Respondent on probation, the assessment of costs related to the investigation and
Prosecution of this case as provided for in Section 456.072(4), Florida Statutes, and/or
any other relief that the Board deems appropriate.
SIGNED this_ 2" aay of 2000.
Robert G. Brooks, M.D., Secretary
LED
OEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DEPUTY CLERK
Re thryn sp
CLERK Nichi R Faron Chief Medical Attorney
pate__lo (de [2e0>
COUNSEL FOR DEPARTMENT:
Kathryn L. Kasprzak
Chief Medical Attorney
Agency for Health Care Administration
P. O. Box 14229
Tallahassee, Florida 32317-4229
Florida Bar # 937819
MRH
PCP: October 21, 2000
PCP Members: Ashkar, Murray, Rodriguez
Docket for Case No: 00-004781PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 08, 2001 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 05, 2001 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction with Leave to Reopen (filed via facsimile).
|
Dec. 15, 2000 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
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Dec. 15, 2000 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for February 8 and 9, 2001; 10:00 a.m.; Jacksonville, FL).
|
Dec. 12, 2000 |
Joint Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
|
Dec. 05, 2000 |
Answer filed by Respondent.
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Nov. 30, 2000 |
Initial Order issued. |
Nov. 29, 2000 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Nov. 29, 2000 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Nov. 29, 2000 |
Agency referral filed.
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