LEWISTON, Maine — A Lewiston gynecologist has surrendered his license to practice medicine in the state of Maine after issuing medical marijuana certificates to male patients.
Keng-cheong Leong surrendered his license Tuesday to the Board of Licensure in Medicine because of a consent agreement. Leong is now barred from practicing medicine in Maine.
Leong, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, was first licensed to practice in Maine in 1973, according to the agreement.
In 2011, he was formally reprimanded by the state board, and his practice was limited to office-based gynecology after a pharmacist reported Leong prescribed OxyContin for a male patient. According to the agreement, the board subsequently learned he had been inappropriately prescribing narcotics for male patients without conducting and documentation including medical histories and exams.
Leong told state regulators that after he injured his shoulder and back in a fall, he decided to give up surgery and obstetrics to begin a part-time general practice including male patients.
Leong admitted in January 2011 he was “naive” regarding patients requesting narcotics, according to the agreement. He was prohibited from prescribing controlled medications other than for gynecology patients for no more than 10 days.
But earlier this year, the board received information Leong had since “been issuing medical marijuana certificates to male patients, had not been performing appropriate examinations, had not been creating appropriate medical records and had been seeing patients at medical marijuana dispensaries instead of at an office,” a release from the Board of Licensure states. “Dr. Leong admitted the board had sufficient evidence from which it could conclude that he engaged in unprofessional conduct, incompetent medical care, and that he violated the terms of his previous agreement.”
The medical oversight board is composed of six physicians and three public members appointed by the governor.