States News Service

January 4, 2007 Thursday

COX ANNOUNCES SUMMARY SUSPENSION OF PSYCHIATRIST’S MEDICAL LICENSE

BYLINE: States News Service

LENGTH: 294 words

DATELINE: LANSING, Mich.

The following information was released by the Michigan Attorney General:
Attorney General Mike Cox announced today that the medical license of Farmington Hills psychiatrist Albert Bayer, M.D., has been summarily suspended by the Board of Medicine amid allegations that he engaged in a long-term sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient to whom he also over-prescribed psychotropic and narcotic medications.
“It is disturbing that a doctor would abuse the trust of patients who seek his medical assistance,” Cox stated. “After receiving the evidence against Dr. Bayer, my office has concluded that the public would be at risk if he were to continue practicing medicine.”
On December 28, 2006, Cox filed an Administrative Complaint with the Michigan Department of Community Health’s Bureau of Health Professions alleging that Dr. Bayer’s conduct constituted an emergency threat to public health, safety, and welfare.
The Bureau of Health Professions investigated allegations that Dr. Bayer had engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient. Dr. Bayer was also alleged to have over-prescribed narcotic pain medications to the patient despite knowing that the patient was chemically dependent and even after she told him that she was taking four to five times the prescribed dose.
“Albert Bayer’s conduct is particularly egregious in light of the patient population he serves,” stated Cox. “My office will request a severe sanction against Bayer’s medical license.”
If the State’s allegations are proved, they constitute violations of the Public Health Code for breach of the standard of care, incompetence, lack of good moral character, and prescription of controlled substances without lawful authority. A summary suspension temporarily suspends Bayer’s medical license.