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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE vs ALAN SALTZMAN, D.O., 04-003496PL (2004)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 04-003496PL Visitors: 15
Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Respondent: ALAN SALTZMAN, D.O.
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Health
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Sep. 28, 2004
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, December 28, 2004.

Latest Update: Jun. 20, 2024
STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Myf or 5 04 SEP 28 ANI: 53 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OIV|S io ADMINISTRA! PETITIONER, HEARINGS 7 v. CASE NO. 2002-19000 ALAN SALTZMAN, D.O., 0 UY . AUG i We RESPONDENT. a ri ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT Petitioner, the Department of Health, by and through undersigned counsel, files this Administrative Complaint before the Board of Osteopathic Medicine against Respondent, Alan Saltzman, D.O., and in support thereof states: 1. Petitioner is the state department charged with regulating the practice of osteopathic medicine pursuant to Section 20.43, Florida Statutes; Chapter 456, Florida Statutes; and Chapter 459, Florida Statutes. 2. Respondent is, and has been at all times material hereto, a licensed osteopathic physician in the State of Florida, having been issued license number OS 4113. 3. Respondent’s last known address is 5345 NW 125 Avenue, Coral Springs, Florida 33076. 4. On April 5, 2002, Patient T.B., an Inspector for the Missouri Board of Pharmacy, completed a questionnaire through an Internet site known as myviagrascript.com (“Internet site”). 5. On April 5, 2002, Patient T.B. ordered three (3) 100 mg tablets of Viagra. Viagra is a legend drug pursuant to state and federal law and it is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. 6. On or about April 5, 2002, Respondent approved the order of Viagra that was placed by Patient T.B. 7. On or about April 5, 2002, Respondent issued an electronic prescription for Viagra. 8. -At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent’s prescription for Viagra was not reduced to writing and was kept in an electronic format stored on computer(s). 9. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not conduct a physical examination of Patient T.B. 10, At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not take the vital signs of Patient T.B. 41. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not obtain a complete history of Patient T.B. 12. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not adequately assess Patient T.B.’s complaints and symptoms. 13. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not identify and pursue the appropriate treatment plan for the condition of Patient T.B. 14. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not make a diagnosis of Patient T.B. 15. At all times material to this Complaint, there was no dialogue between Respondent and Patient T.B. 16. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent did not discuss with Patient T.B. other available options for erectile dysfunction, did not inform Patient T.B. of the potential side effects of Viagra and did not inform Patient T.B. of the risks and benefits of taking Viagra. 17. The prescription for Viagra was filled and dispensed by Ancona Drug Solutions (A.D.S."), 1450 N US Highway 1, Suite 400, Ormond Beach, Florida 32174. 18. On or about April 9, 2002, Patient T.B. received a vial from A.D.S. containing the three tablets of Viagra. The label on the vial identified Respondent as the prescribing physician. COUNT I - STANDARD OF CARE 19. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1) through eighteen (18) as if fully set forth herein. 20. Rule 64B15-14.008, Florida Administrative Code, states, in pertinent part: (1) Prescribing medications based solely on = an electronic medical questionnaire constitutes the failure to practice osteopathic medicine with that level of care, skill, and treatment which is recognized by reasonably prudent osteopathic physicians as being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances, as well as prescribing legend drugs other than in the course of an osteopathic physician’s professional practice. Such practice constitutes grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to Sections 459.015(1)(x) and (t), F.S: (2) Osteopathic physicians shall not provide treatment recommendations, including issuing a prescription, via electronic or other means unless the following elements have been met: (a) A documented patient evaluation, including history and physical examination, adequate to establish the diagnosis for which any drug is prescribed. (b) Sufficient dialogue between the osteopathic physician and the patient regarding treatment options and the risks and benefits of treatment. (c) Maintenance of contemporaneous medical records meeting the requirements of Rule 64B15-15.004, F.A.C. 21. Rule 64B15-15.004, Florida Administrative Code, states, in pertinent part: (1) For the purpose of implementing the provisions of subsection 459.015(1)(0), F.S., osteopathic physicians shall maintain written legible records on each patient. Such written records shall contain, at a minimum, the following information about the patient: (a) Patient histories; (b) Examination results; (c) Test results; (d) Records of drugs prescribed, dispensed or administered; (e) Reports of consultations; and (f) Reports of hospitalizations. 22. Pursuant to Section 459.015(1)(x), Florida Statutes (2001), an osteopathic physician’s license is subject to discipline for failure to practice osteopathic medicine with that level of care, skill, and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar osteopathic physician as being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances. 23. Respondent failed to practice osteopathic medicine with that level of care, skill, and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar osteopathic physician as being acceptable under similar circumstances, by doing one or more of the following: (a) by failing to perform a physical examination on Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra; (b) by failing to obtain a complete history on Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra; (c) by failing to make a diagnosis or treatment plan for Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra; (d) by failing to reduce to writing the prescription for Viagra; (e) by failing to take Patient T.B.’s vital signs; (f) by failing to adequately assess Patient T.B.’s complaints and symptoms; (g) by failing to identify and pursue the appropriate treatment plan for Patient T.B.’s condition; (h) by failing to discuss with Patient T.B. other available options for erectile dysfunction other than Viagra an about the risks and benefits of taking Viagra; (i) by prescribing medication based solely on an electronic medical questionnaire contrary to the provisions found in Rules 64B15-14.008 and 64B15-15.004, Florida Administrative Code. 24. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 459.015(1)(x), Florida Statutes (2001), by failing to practice osteopathic medicine with that level of care, skill and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar osteopathic physician as being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances. COUNT II- MEDICAL RECORDS 25. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1) through eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) as if fully set forth herein. 26. Section 459.015(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2001), provides that an osteopathic physician's license is subject to discipline for failure to keep medical records that justify the course of treatment of the patient, including, but not limited to, patient histories; examination results; test results; records of drugs prescribed, dispensed, or administered; and reports of consultations and hospitalizations. 27. Respondent failed to satisfy the minimum content requirement of medical records because Respondent failed to adequately record Patient T.B.’s medical history. 28. Respondent failed to satisfy the minimum content requirement of medical records because Respondent's records do not contain any information about examinations or test results done on Patient T.B. 29. Respondent failed to satisfy the minimum content requirement of medical records because Respondent’s records do not contain any reports of consultations. 30. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 459.015(1)(0), Florida Statutes (2001), and Rule 64B15-15.004, Florida ' Administrative Code, by failing to keep legible, as defined by department rule in consultation with the board, medical records that identify the licensed osteopathic physician or the osteopathic physician extender and supervising osteopathic physician by name and professional title who is or are responsible for rendering, ordering, supervising, or billing for each diagnostic or treatment procedure and that justify the course of treatment of the patient, including, but not limited to, patient histories; examination results; test results; records of drugs prescribed, dispensed, or administered; and reports of consultations and hospitalizations. COUNT III - INAPPROPRIATE PRESCRIBING 31. Petitioner re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs one (1) through eighteen (18) and twenty (20) through twenty-one (21) as if fully set forth herein. 32. Pursuant to Section 459.015(1)(t), Florida Statutes (2001), an osteopathic physician’s license is subject to discipline for: prescribing, dispensing, administering, supplying, _ selling, giving, mixing, or otherwise preparing a legend drug, including all controlled substances, other than in the course of the osteopathic physician's professional practice. 33. At all times material to this Complaint, Respondent prescribed Viagra to Patient T.B. inappropriately and not in the course of professional practice because Respondent: (a) (b) (c) (d) failed to perform a physical examination on Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra; failed to obtain a complete history on Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra; failed to make a diagnosis or treatment plan for Patient T.B. prior to prescribing Viagra; failed to reduce to writing the prescription for Viagra; failed to take Patient T.B.’s vital signs; 9 (f) failed to adequately assess Patient T.B.’s complaints and symptoms; (g) failed to identify and pursue the appropriate treatment plan for Patient T.B.’s condition; (h) failed to discuss with Patient T.B. other available options for weight loss and the side effects of Viagra; (i) prescribed medication based solely on an_ electronic medical questionnaire contrary to the provisions found in Rules 64B15-14.008 and 64B15-15.004, Florida Administrative Code. 34. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated Section 458.331(1)(t), Florida Statutes (2001), by inappropriately prescribing Viagra to Patient T.B. other than in the course of the osteopathic physician’s professional practice. WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Board of Osteopathic Medicine enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties: permanent revocation or suspension of Respondent's license, restriction of practice, imposition of an administrative fine, issuance of a reprimand, placement of the Respondent on probation, corrective action, refund of fees billed or collected, remedial education and/or any other relief that the Board deems appropriate. , vd) < SIGNED this_A2 _ day of Felyvoary , 2004. John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A. fe ED d DEPARTS. 7 00s cAuTH Florida Bar No. 647871 _— DOH Prosecution Services Unit Os Ales Catan 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-65 vay we_alaslod a3 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3265 850.410-3466 850.414.1991 FAX Reviewed and approved by: {Yt _(initials) 1245/02 __(date) PCP: Feb. 2 e, Zuv PCP Members: thand + t@auctine Alan Saltzman, D.O., DOH Case No, 2002-19000 Alan Saltzman, D.O., DOH Case No. 2002-19000 peta D 04 SEP 28 AMIN: 53 NOTICE OF RIGHTS DIVISION Oo ADMINISTRAG SE Respondent has the right to request a heatitg!€$ 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: 04-003496PL
Issue Date Proceedings
Dec. 28, 2004 Order Closing Files. CASE CLOSED.
Dec. 03, 2004 Petitioner`s Request for Production of Documents filed.
Dec. 03, 2004 Petitioner`s Request for Production of Documents filed.
Oct. 19, 2004 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Oct. 19, 2004 Notice of Hearing (hearing set for January 11 through 13, 2005; 9:30 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes, FL).
Oct. 19, 2004 Order Granting Consolidation. (consolidated cases are: 04-003495PL, 04-003496PL, 04-003497PL, 04-003498PL)
Oct. 07, 2004 Petitioner`s Motion to Consolidation (of case nos: 04-3495PL, 04-3946PL, 04-3497PL, 04-3498PL) filed via facsimile.
Oct. 05, 2004 Petitioner`s Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
Sep. 29, 2004 Notice of Serving Petitioner`s Request for Admission, Requests for Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents (filed via facsimile).
Sep. 28, 2004 Initial Order.
Sep. 28, 2004 Entry of Appearance filed.
Sep. 28, 2004 Election of Rights filed.
Sep. 28, 2004 Administrative Complaint filed.
Sep. 28, 2004 Agency referral filed.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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