Saint Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)

August 5, 1997 Tuesday

THREE PHYSICIANS’ LICENSES SUSPENDED BY STATE BOARD

BYLINE: Tom Majeski, Staff Writer

SECTION: METRO; Pg. 3B

LENGTH: 584 words

A Minneapolis psychiatrist and a Grand Rapids physician have had their medical licenses suspended for engaging in sexual relations with their patients, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice has announced.
The board also suspended the licenses of a St. Louis Park physician and the registration of a respiratory care practitioner from Zim. It also amended an earlier order for a Minnetonka physician, reprimanded a St. Cloud physical therapist and restricted the license of a physician from Fargo, N.D., who also holds a license to practice in Minnesota.
The Minneapolis psychiatrist, Dr. Thomas G. Bieter, 57, had his license suspended for unprofessional conduct, inability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, becoming addicted or habituated to a drug or intoxicant and engaging in conduct with a patient that is sexual or may reasonably be interpreted by the patient as sexual.
Under the board’s order, Bieter may petition the board for reinstatement of his license after he successfully undergoes treatment and evaluation. He also must pay a $10,000 fine.
The Grand Rapids physician, Dr. Thomas R. Edwards, 50, admitted having a six-week affair in late 1994 with a female patient whose family had a close social relationship with his family.
Besides suspending Edwards’ license for 90 days, the board ordered him to undergo psychotherapy and pay a $6,000 fine.
The St. Louis Park physician, Dr. Margaret M. Johnson, 49, had her license suspended indefinitely for violating a previous board order that required her to submit to random urine drug screenings.
However, the board will stay Johnson’s suspension provided she undergoes at least 12 unannounced blood and/or urine tests per quarter, refrains from all alcohol and mood-altering chemicals, attends at least eight self-help program meetings a month and attends monthly meetings of a professional support group.
The Zim respiratory care practitioner, James A. Essen Jr., 38, had his registration suspended indefinitely for failing to inform the board on his renewal application that he had been convicted of driving while intoxicated, had relapsed on marijuana laced with cocaine and had been charged with fifth-degree possession of cocaine.
Once Essen completes a chemical treatment program, he can petition the board for reinstatement of his registration.
The Minnetonka physician, Dr. Timothy J. Meade, 37, had provisions of an earlier board order tightened after he tested positive for drugs and alcohol and failed to complete a professional boundaries training course within nine months, as required by the board.
Gregory P. Campbell, a 50-year-old physical therapist from St. Cloud, was reprimanded for overbilling Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota for nearly $17,000 and the Minnesota Department of Human Services by more than $8,000.
Campbell was ordered to undergo a records management course and pay a $10,000 fine.
The Fargo physician, Dr. Robert D. Staton, 58, was reprimanded for having a three-year sexual relationship with a female patient, revealing a privileged communication, improper management of medical records, unprofessional and unethical conduct and failure to make required reports.
Staton was ordered to complete records management, professional boundaries and chemical dependency awareness courses and pay a $11,000 fine. The board said he could reduce the fine by the cost of the three courses.