A Belfast physician has lost her medical license after twice overdosing on prescription medication, while a Lewiston doctor with a history of substance abuse has regained his license with some limitations, according to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine.
Myra Altman voluntarily surrendered her license to practice medicine in Maine in a Dec. 11 consent agreement, according to a press release from the board. Altman acknowledged that the board had sufficient evidence to conclude that she has a diagnosis “likely to result in her performing services in a manner that endangers the health and safety of patients.”
The board learned in January that Altman’s employer had permanently suspended her clinical privileges for failing to cover patients, according to the release. Altman responded that she had been hospitalized in May 2011 and was not allowed to return to work for four months, though she remained in contact with covering physicians.
In October 2012, the board discovered that Altman was hospitalized again after overdosing on prescription medication for the second time in 18 months, according to the release.
Altman is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology. She can no longer practice medicine in Maine.
In a separate release, the board announced that Lewiston doctor David Breer was granted a conditional medical license after being disciplined in 2002 for “obtaining opiates through inappropriate prescribing practices.”
Breer had not practiced medicine since 2002, according to the release. He formerly practiced at Androscoggin Psychiatric Associates, according to a state licensing database.
Breer requested in March that his medical licence be reinstated. He participates in a substance abuse monitoring program and passed an exam indicating that his clinical skills remain current, the release stated.
A physician monitor must observe Breer in his practice at least once a week.
Next Dr. Phil–“Doctors on drugs.”
Most problems begin with the Dr. over prescribing.
What does that have to do with doctors prescribing for themselves?
Maybe they’re getting kickbacks from their patients so nobody knows the extra doses are for the doc.
I honestly think the majority of it comes from patients pressuring the doctors for more narcotics and healthcare providers having a hard time saying ‘enough’s enough’. We chose to do the profession we do because we want to help people and know we have the ability to aleviate discomfort. We are all taught that pain is more subjective-or what the patient tells us-not objective-or how we perceive the patient’s pain level. There is so much to learn about pain and it’s treatment. There are other non-narcotic ways to treat pain, too, but people are looking for a quick fix and want a pill. So providers are supposed to take pain as the patient tells it, and THAT’S where the problem starts. Because if they DON’T treat pain, they are horrible providers that “won’t do anything for me or my pain”. It truly is a no-win situation for both sides at time.
Nurse Jackie?
She is a troubled soul.First the dog thing,then her husband keeping her prisoner in a dumpster,and now this.Maybe its time to buy a little motel on the Fla.Panhandle and retire.Have a little b&b and give up on doctoring for a while?
Thanks for pointing this out, I didn’t recognize the name and was wondering who this was, until you mentioned the dumpster incident. She obviously changed her last name and this is why I didn’t recognize it. Agreed, she should be kept far away from practicing medicine. When you cannot manage your own life responsibly you probably shouldn’t be entrusted with caring for the health and well being of others.
Woah, what is this all about? Hadn’t heard anything about this. Was this in the news?
Yeah Mary … I’ll be right back I need to get a fix …errr I mean check your test results.
How sad that after all that hard work to get through medical school and obtaining the honorable profession of healthcare provider that it is all lost in an instant due to addiction.
I didn’t plagerize you. Guess we thought the same thing.
Didn’t know what you were talking about at first! :)
Sounds like an N.P. or P.A. wanna be doctor.
The N.Ps or P.As that Ive known are much better at patient care than the Drs,sad to say…
How sad that people who worked so hard for their careers threw them away for drugs.
You are talking about two different Doctors here folks. She is not the one involved in the dumpster incident.