Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF MEDICINE
Respondent: DALE REYNOLDS FRALICKER, M.D.
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: Tallahassee, Florida
Filed: Feb. 04, 2015
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, April 13, 2015.
Latest Update: Dec. 28, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
Petitioner,
v. CASE NUMBER 2014-12345
DALE REYNOLDS FRALICKER, M.D.,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
COMES NOW, Petitioner, Department of Health (“Department”), by and
through its undersigned counsel, and files this Administrative Complaint
before the Board of Medicine against Respondent, Dale Reynolds Fralicker,
M.D., and in support thereof alleges:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating the practice
of medicine, pursuant to Chapters 20, 456 and 458, Florida Statutes (2013-
2014).
2. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent was licensed
to practice medicine in the State of Florida pursuant to Chapter 458, Florida
Statutes, having been issued license number ME 37217.
3. Respondent's address of record is 320 3 Street, Suite B, Neptune
Beach, Florida 32266.
4. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent worked at
Family Care Partners (FCP) in Neptune Beach, Florida.
5. Onor about June 25, 2014, FCP staff contacted the Professionals
Resource Network (PRN) and reported that Respondent exhibited manic
behaviors over the previous three months.
6. PRN serves as the State of Florida’s Impaired Practitioners
Program and the Florida Department of Health’s consultant regarding matters
of impairment among healthcare practitioners.
7. On or about July 9, 2014, Respondent contacted PRN after
receiving a letter from PRN regarding FCP complaints about his behavior.
PRN provided Respondent with three options for a PRN-facilitated boundaries
and substance abuse evaluation.
8. From about July 25 through 29, 2014, Respondent underwent a
PRN-facilitated evaluation at the Professional Renewal Center (PRC) in
Lawrence, Kansas.
9. PRC staff diagnosed Respondent with mood disorder, not
otherwise specified (NOS); rule-out bipolar spectrum disorder versus
substance-induced bipolar disorder; anxiety disorder, NOS; marijuana abuse,
in partial remission based upon self-report; and alcohol abuse, rule out
dependence.
10. Marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinols (THC). According to
Section 893.03(1), Florida Statutes (2013-2014), THC is a Schedule I
controlled substance that has a high potential for abuse and has no currently
accepted medical use in treatment in Florida. Its use under medical
supervision does not meet accepted safety standards.
11. The PRC evaluation report also indicated that Respondent's
testing revealed narcissistic, histrionic, and dependent personality traits.
12. PRC opined that Respondent was not safe to practice medicine
and would not clear Respondent to return to practice as a physician.
13. The evaluators assessed that Respondent did not believe that any
of his actions were inappropriate and had a poor sense of personal and
professional-boundaries.
14. PRC staff recommended that Respondent undergo residential
treatment, participate in PRN, and follow all PRN recommendations.
15. Based upon the results of the evaluation, PRN informed
Respondent that PRN would not allow him to return to practice and provided
him with treatment options.
16. On or about August 29, 2014, PRN contacted the Department to
report Respondent's noncompliance, including his failure to undergo
treatment, and closed Respondent's PRN file.
3
17. Section 458.331(1)(s), Florida Statutes (2013-2014), subjects a
physician to discipline, including suspension, for “[b]eing unable to practice
medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or
use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type of material or
as a result of any mental or physical condition.”
18. Respondent violated Section 458.331(1)(s), Florida Statute
(2013-2014), by being unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and
safety due to one or more of the following:
a. mood disorder, NOS;
b. rule-out bipolar spectrum disorder versus substance-induced
bipolar disorder;
c. anxiety disorder, NOS;
d. marijuana abuse, in partial remission based upon self-report;
and/or
e. alcohol abuse, rule out dependence.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board Medicine
enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: perraanent
revocation or suspension of Respondent’s license, restriction of practice,
imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand, placement of
Respondent on probation, corrective action, refund of fees billed or collected,
remedial education and/or any other relief that the Board deems appropriate.
SIGNED this \V day of _ Nogmnletw7 2014.
John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS
State Surgeon General and
Secretary of Health
he r L. Fortenberry, Esq.
Florida Bar No. 0021640
Assistant General Counsel
Prosecution Services Unit
FILED
DEPARTMENT ‘GF HEAL 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-65
DEPUT Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3265
S: v
pare NOVT Ta (P) 850-245-4444, extension 8141
(F) 850-245-4662
(E) jenifer.fortenberry @flhealth.gov
PCP: November 7, 2014
PCP Members: Dr. Avila; Dr. Ginzburg; Ms. Pardue
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
Respondent has the right to request a hearing to be conducted
in accordance with Section 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, to
be represented by counsel or other qualified representative, to
present evidence and argument, to call and cross-examine
witnesses and to have subpoena and subpoena duces tecum issued
on his or her behalf if a hearing is requested.
NOTICE REGARDING ASSESSMENT OF COSTS
Respondent is placed on notice that Petitioner has incurred
costs related to the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
Pursuant to Section 456.072(4), Florida Statutes, the Board shall
assess costs related to the investigation and prosecution of a
disciplinary matter, which may include attorney hours and costs, on
the Respondent in addition to any other discipline imposed.
Docket for Case No: 15-000611PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Apr. 13, 2015 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Apr. 13, 2015 |
(Petitioner's) Motion for Relinquishment of Jurisdiction filed.
|
Apr. 06, 2015 |
Order Granting Motion for Medical Examination.
|
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Petitioner's Response in Opposition to Respondent's Motion for Medical Examination filed.
|
Mar. 27, 2015 |
(Petitioner's) Motion for Independent Medical Examination of Respondent filed.
|
Mar. 18, 2015 |
Notice of Serving Petitioner's First Request for Production, First Request for Interrogatories and First Request for Admissions to Respondent filed.
|
Feb. 12, 2015 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Feb. 12, 2015 |
Notice of Hearing (hearing set for April 20 and 21, 2015; 9:30 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
|
Feb. 11, 2015 |
Joint Response to the Intitial Order filed.
|
Feb. 05, 2015 |
Initial Order.
|
Feb. 05, 2015 |
Notice of Appearance (Jenifer L. Fortenberry) filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2015 |
Answer to Administrative Complaint and Petition to Formal Hearing filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2015 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2015 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Feb. 04, 2015 |
Agency referral filed.
|