INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced on Friday that the Indiana Medical Licensing Board gave a Fort Wayne doctor indefinite probation for a minimum of two years.
The board voted on Thursday to give William Hedrick probation that would allow him to practice medicine with restrictions. Zoeller's office alleged that Hedrick, the owner and operator of the Centers for Pain Relief, did not follow proper protocol when he prescribed addictive narcotics to patients.
Gabrielle Owens, the deputy director of the Licensing Enforcement and Homeowner Protection Unit, praised the decision and said Hedrick failed to adequately supervise nurse practitioners and physician assistants in his office. She said the lack of supervision led to negative outcomes for patients.
After hearing 10 hours of testimony from witnesses and experts, the board voted in favor of three of the state's six counts against Hedrick related to the alleged use of steroid injections beyond what is considered medically appropriate, failure to supervise employees and failure to adhere to current operational standards of practice.
Hedrick will undergo a doctor re-entry program, where he will be evaluated and submit an evaluation report to the board within 90 days. Hedrick may not petition the board to withdraw the probation for a period of two years.
Additionally, Hedrick must pay $3,000 in civil penalties and added costs related to the state's inquiry.
In December, Hedrick agreed to a temporary license suspension. Zoeller's office filed a formal licensing complaint with the board, alleging Hedrick used unsafe pain therapies and dangerous practices of mixing drugs.
Ind. doctor given at least two years of probation
