Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

November 24, 2002 Sunday

Psychiatrist voluntarily gives up his license

BYLINE: Matt Leingang, Staff

SECTION: LOCAL STATE; Pg. 1B

LENGTH: 409 words

BY STAFF WRITER
MATT LEINGANG
A Rochester psychiatrist has turned in his medical license after state officials accused him of prescribing improper and excessive medications to family members and to a patient who subsequently died of a drug overdose.
Jerome Woodward, 48, voluntarily surrendered his license earlier this month to the state Board for Professional Medical Conduct, admitting that he was negligent and failed to maintain adequate records.
In one allegation, Woodward treated a woman in her 30s for a bipolar disorder and anxiety, prescribing “excessive” amounts of Darvon and Darvocet with “no medical justification” up until her death from a drug overdose in October 1999, according a statement of charges. The statement does not identify the drugs that caused the woman’s death, but the type and amount of medications prescribed by Woodward were contrary to accepted medical practice, given her history of suicidal thoughts, the statement said.
“By law, I’m not at liberty to discuss the case beyond what is in the report,” said Kristine Smith, spokeswoman for the state Health Department.
“I can say that the charges are quite serious and numerous.”
In surrendering his license, Woodward avoid-ed a state misconduct hearing.
He did so for personal reasons, said Edward Fox, a Rochester attorney who represents Woodward.
“Generally, these actions (voluntarily surrendering a medical license) are taken for lots of reasons that are unconnected to being a bad doctor or having committed a bad act, and I would hope that people would respect that as they look at this thing,” said Fox, without offering additional comment.
Under state law, Woodward has the right to petition to have his license restored in three years, Smith said. Woodward had a private psychiatric office at 760 Perinton Hills Office Park in Fairport and also worked part-time at the Albion Correctional Facility until Nov. 4, the date he surrendered his medical license.
Woodward is on leave of absence without pay, said Roger Klingman, spokes-man for the state Office of Mental Health, which coordinates psychiatric treatment for inmates.
Klingman said he could not comment on Woodward or discuss whether any of the misconduct allegations occurred in Albion. The prison is not mentioned in the statement of charges.
The state also alleged that Woodward inappropriately provided prescription drugs.