Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC
Respondent: PETER ANTHONY KENT, D.C.
Judges: STUART M. LERNER
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: West Palm Beach, Florida
Filed: Jan. 25, 2001
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, October 5, 2001.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 0}
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
Petitioner,
Vs. CASE NO. 97-06376
O\- 032? p a
PETER ANTHONY KENT, D.C.
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW the Petitioner, Department of Health, and files this
Administrative Complaint before the Board of Chiropractic Medicine against the
Respondent, PETER ANTHONY KENT, D.C., and in support thereof would state:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice of
chiropractic medicine pursuant to Section 20.43, Florida Statutes; Chapter 455, Florida
Statutes; and Chapter 460, Florida Statutes.
2. Pursuant to the authority of Section 20.43(3)(g), Florida Statutes, the Petitioner
has contracted with the Agency for Health Care Administration, hereinafter referred to as
the "Agency," to provide consumer complaint, investigative, and prosecutorial services
required by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance, councils or board, as appropriate,
including the issuance of emergency orders of suspension or restriction.
3. Respondent has been, at all times pertinent hereto, a duly licensed chiropractic
physician purstiant to Chapter 460, Florida Statutes, having been issued license number
CH 0004103, At the present time the Subject's license is delinquent.
4. Respondent's last known address is 2700 South Tamiami Trail, Suite 17,
Sarasota, Florida 34239.
5. On January 6, 1997, an individual known as SS for the purposes of this action,
presented to the Respondent's office, at the address shown above, relative to shoulder
pain he was experiencing. A course of treatment was commenced by the Respondent that
continued for an additional four office sessions: on January 7, 1997; January 8, 1997;
January 9; 1997; and January 10, 1997, for a total of five office visits.
6. During the course of the treatments referred to above, SS indicated that he had
a chronic urinary tract infection. The Respondent stated he could treat the problem for an
additional fee. At this time the Respondent took a sample of blood from SS's finger and
placed it on a piece of paper, indicating he would send the sample off to his lab for
testing, and to determine a course of treatment.
7. On January 28, 1997 SS went to the Respondent's office for a consultation
regarding the blood test results. At this time the Respondent diagnosed the patient with
"geopathic stress", and prescribed two homeopathic remedies for SS, herbal solutions,
and suppositories, one of the two boxes of the latter containing penicillin. A copy of the
remedies provided are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and marked
exhibit "A".
8. In addition, the Respondent went to the patient's home on January 28, 1997.
He went into the bedroom with a coat hanger and advised SS that there was "geopathic
stress" in the room. The Respondent advised SS to move his bed to the center of the
room to avoid the "geopathic stress", and placed two short pieces of capped PVC pipe
under the bed to "neutralize" certain types of the geopathic stress.
9. On January 29, 1997 the Respondent went to the patient's home for a
"geopathic recheck", and also to collect fees allegedly due and owing for the services
provided.
10. On June 23, 1997 Petitioner's Investigator requested the medical records and
charts for SS from the Respondent. A review of the documents provided clearly show
that they were prepared subsequent to the subpoena and notice of the commencement of
this action, the Respondent having failed to keep treatment records for the patient at the .
time they were administered.
11. The Respondent's failure to keep legibly written records that justify the
course of treatment for the patient, including histories, examination results, test results
and diagnosis of disease, condition or injury is contrary to Section 460.413( 1)(m), Florida
Statutes.
12. The methods employed by the Respondent in the treatment afforded to the
patient, more particularly by providing remedies consisting of herbs, water, and alcohol;
by diagnosing *geopathic stress", and employing a coat hanger and PCV pipes ‘in the
practice of Chiropractic; and by conducting blood testing using notebook paper as a
testing medium is contrary to Section 460.413(1)(r), Florida Statutes, as it constitutes the
failure to practice chiropractic at a level of care, skill and treatment recognized by a
reasonably prudent chiropractic physician as being acceptable under similar
circumstances and conditions.
13. In addition, the representations made by the Respondent to his patient, SS,
conceming thé efficacy of these treatments, were deceptive, untrue and fraudulent,
contrary to Section 460.413(1)(k), Florida Statutes.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Board of Chiropractic
Medicine enter an Order imposing one or more of the penalties proscribed by law,
together with any other and further relief deemed just under the circumstances.
SIGNED thig) fay of loxank , 1999.
Robert G. Brooks, M.D.
Secretary, Department of Health
By: Nancy M. Snurkowski
Chief Attorney
On Behalf of the Agency for
Health Care Administration
COUNSEL FOR AGENCY:
Lawrence F. Kranert, Jr. Fl LE D
Senior Attorney
Allied Health
P.O. Box 14229
Tallahassee, Florida 32317-4229
(850) 487-2225
Nol
GORY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Florida Bar No. 0171063 Desche CLERK
orida Bar No. .
Agency for Health Care Administration CLERK 9. Dim
General Counsel's Office - MQA DATE. é ial (Q-D t
Docket for Case No: 01-000327PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Oct. 05, 2001 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
Oct. 03, 2001 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction Without Prejudice (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
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Jul. 31, 2001 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
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Jul. 31, 2001 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for October 19, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
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Jul. 30, 2001 |
Letter to Judge Lerner from D. Herman regarding status of case (filed via facsimile).
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Jul. 19, 2001 |
Order Granting Continuance issued (parties to advise status by July 30, 2001).
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Jul. 18, 2001 |
Respondent`s Motion for an Additional Sixty (60) Day Continuance of the Hearing (filed via facsimile).
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May 14, 2001 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for August 3, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
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May 11, 2001 |
Letter to Judge Lerner from D. Herman (regarding available dates for hearing) filed via facsimile.
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May 10, 2001 |
Letter to Judge Lerner from David Herman, Order Granting Continuance (filed via facsimile).
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May 03, 2001 |
Order Granting Continuance issued (parties to advise status by May 10, 2001).
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May 02, 2001 |
Contingent Notice of Appearance (of Harriet Freeman) and Motion for a Sixty (60) Day Continuance filed by H. Freeman.
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Apr. 18, 2001 |
Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum Dr. P. Kent (filed via facsimile).
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Apr. 18, 2001 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for May 11, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL).
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Apr. 11, 2001 |
Motion to Continue Final Hearing and Respondent`s Notice of Change of Address (filed via facsimile).
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Apr. 09, 2001 |
Letter to Jay Hurley from D. Herman canceling depositon of Dr. Peter Kent (set for April 9, 2001 at 1:00 p.m.) filed via facsimile.
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Apr. 03, 2001 |
Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
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Mar. 07, 2001 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing issued (hearing set for April 17, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Orlando, FL).
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Mar. 02, 2001 |
Petitioner`s Motion to Reschedule Final Hearing and Respondent`s Notice of Change of Address (filed via facsimile).
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Feb. 26, 2001 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for March 16, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Orlando and Tallahassee, FL).
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Feb. 26, 2001 |
Pettioner`s Objection to Respondent`s Request for Continuance (filed via facsimile).
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Feb. 20, 2001 |
Letter to Judge Kirkland from P. Kent In re: request for continuance (filed via facsimile).
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Feb. 13, 2001 |
Notice of Taking Deposition (filed via facsimile).
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Feb. 08, 2001 |
Petitioner`s Witness List (filed via facsimile).
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Feb. 07, 2001 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
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Feb. 07, 2001 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference issued (video hearing set for February 28, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Orlando and Tallahassee, FL).
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Feb. 01, 2001 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
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Jan. 25, 2001 |
Initial Order issued.
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Jan. 25, 2001 |
Statement of Disputed Facts filed.
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Jan. 25, 2001 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Jan. 25, 2001 |
Agency referral filed.
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