Anchorage Daily News (Alaska)

October 27, 2004 Wednesday, STATE EDITION

Alaska Digest

SECTION: ALASKA; Pg. B3

LENGTH: 805 words

ANCHORAGE
Psychiatrist’s medical license is revoked for unprofessional conduct
The Alaska State Medical Board revoked the medical license for Dr. Michael Bernzott at its meeting last week.
The state Division of Occupational Licensing had filed an accusation against Bernzott, an Alaska psychiatrist since 1985, saying he showed a lack of concern for a patient’s well-being and engaged in unprofessional conduct.
During a 1995 treatment meeting at North Star Hospital, Bernzott removed a concealed handgun from a holster he was wearing and placed it on his desk, near the patient, the accusation said. The division’s report said Bernzott told the patient the gun was loaded but later denied it during the investigation.
The patient pointed the gun at staff members in the treatment meeting before giving it back to Bernzott. The accusation also said Bernzott didn’t release complete medical records for a minor child when the patient’s father submitted a written request for them.
State investigators had tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a settlement with Bernzott, said Leslie Gallant, the medical board’s executive secretary. Bernzott had left the state and applied for a medical license in Arizona. On his application, Bernzott falsely said he was not under investigation by a medical board, another example of unprofessional conduct, the division’s accusation said.