Medical board cites area doctors

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Medical Board announced Thursday that it has taken disciplinary action against 187 licensed physicians in the state.

Three doctors in the Austin area were cited, while two doctors' suspensions were lifted.

The board lifted a previous suspension for Dr. Sergio Silva, Austin, whose license was suspended in 2007 due to substance abuse. Silva had to provide clear and convincing evidence that he could resume safe practice as well as undergo a 96-hour psychiatric evaluation. The board found Silva has almost three years of sobriety and complied with the 2007 order.

The board entered into a new 10-year order with Silva that requires him to abstain from using prohibited substances, undergo alcohol and drug screening, continue in Alcoholics Anonymous, have ongoing psychiatric oversight, restrict his practice to adult patients in a group or institutional setting. The board also set restrictions on his prescribing and delegation authority.

The board also lifted a previous suspension on Dr. Mark David Stoeckel, Round Rock. Stoeckel's license was originally suspended after a substance abuse relapse in 2008 while under a 10-year confidential/non-public/non-disciplinary agreed rehabilitation order set in 2007.

The 2008 order suspended Stoeckel’s license until such time as he could provide clear and convincing evidence to the board that he could safely resume the practice of medicine. The Board found on Aug. 27 that Stoeckel has demonstrated two years of sobriety, has a strong commitment to recovery, and has been voluntarily enrolled in an alcohol and drug screening program.

Accordingly, the board terminated Stoeckel's 2008 suspension and entered a new 10-year order that requires abstinence from prohibited substances, attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous and Caduceus, ongoing psychiatric oversight, restriction to a group or institutional practice settings, and restrictions on his prescribing and delegation authority.

Three other area physicians' citations are as follows:

Dr. William Buford Inman, Austin -- entered into an agreed order requiring Inman to complete 16 hours of CME including eight hours in medical record-keeping, four hours in physician-patient communication and four hours in the treatment of geriatric patients. The order was based upon Inman’s inadequate medical records and his failure to obtain informed consent before performing tests, treatments or procedures for one patient in an assisted living facility.

Dr. Carlo Lee Klott, Bastrop -- entered into an agreed order requiring Klott to complete within one year 36 hours of CME including 20 hours in the subject of disruptive physicians, eight hours in the subject of treating obstetrical emergencies and eight hours in the use and reading of sonograms. The order was based upon Klott’s failure to meet the standard of care in his treatment of a patient with pregnancy complications and his unprofessional and disruptive behavior toward hospital staff.

Dr. Mark Thomas Malone, Round Rock - entered into an agreed order requiring Malone to complete within one year eight hours of CME in medical record-keeping; pay an administrative penalty of $500 within 60 days; and submit to the Board within 45 days a corrective action plan addressing the appropriate manner in which to incorporate Malone’s direct participation in patient care with physician extenders as well as detail proper documentation of Malone’s treatment decisions. The order was based upon Dr. Malone’s failure to practice medicine in an acceptable, professional manner in his treatment of a pain patient.

The violations and quantities by type were:

• 33 - based on quality of care
• 8 - based on unprofessional conduct
• 11 - inadequate medical records
• 14 - voluntary surrenders
• 5 - revocation/suspensions
• 1 - based on peer review
• 1 - failure to properly supervise or delegate
• 4 - violations of probation or prior order
• 1 - based on a criminal conviction
• 6 - against physician assistance
• 1 - rules violation order
• 1 - informed consent violation
• 1 - impairment due to alcohol, drugs or a medical condition order
• 1 - cease-and-desist order
• 4 - based on other states' actions
• 3 - terminations of suspension
• 25 - corrective orders

The board issued 74 orders for minor statutory violations.

At its Aug. 25 - 27 meeting, the board also issued 88 physician licenses.