Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa)

September 18, 2010 Saturday

Psychiatrist’s license suspended

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. a3

LENGTH: 155 words

An Iowa City psychiatrist has had his medical license suspended indefinitely by the Iowa Board of Medicine
The board charged Vernon Varner, 67, with “suffering from a physical, neuropsychological or mental condition” that could impair his ability to “practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety,” according to a news release. The license suspension, dated Aug. 25, followed the board receiving a report that he had violated “appropriate physician-patient boundaries” and that his health could hurt his ability to continue his practice. He was ordered to undergo a complete evaluation in July, according to board records.
As part of the suspension agreement, Varner agreed to complete board-approved neuropsychological testing and go under the care of a psychiatrist and physician, both of whom must be approved by the board, the records said.
A phone message left at Varner’s home seeking comment was not immediately returned.