Scottsdale,
Ariz. - During a special meeting on August 30, 2005, the Arizona Medical Board voted unanimously to summarily suspend the licenses of two physicians to protect the public from an imminent threat. Once effective, interim Board orders remain in place until a formal hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings and a subsequent Board action, generally occurring within 60 days.
One case involves John C. Woods, M.D., a Pinetop psychiatrist, who had worked at the Community Counseling Center in Holbrook until July. Navajo County Sheriff‘s deputies arrested Dr. Woods on August 16th. He faces a variety of charges stemming from a violent domestic dispute with his wife on August 14th. Dr. Woods is in jail with bond set at $1.25 million.
In the other case, the Board suspended the license of David A. Wilbirt, M.D., a Scottsdale general practitioner, for prescribing medication while he was on a complete practice limitation, prohibiting all practice, including prescribing.
In a third case, the Board voted to summarily restrict the license of Harshad S. Patel, M.D., a Sun City physician, unless he signed a consent agreement for practice restrictions by 5pm today. The practice restriction requires Dr. Patel to have a licensed healthcare provider chaperone his examinations and treatment of female patients. Dr. Patel, who is Board certified in internal medicine, signed the consent agreement.
The Arizona Medical Board licenses and regulates more than 17,500 physicians, of whom more than ten-thousand have Arizona addresses. Board offices are located at 9545 East Doubletree Ranch Road in Scottsdale.
|