State board strips doctors’ licenses

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Thursday, June 21, 2001 | 10:49 a.m.

The state Board of Medical Examiners has revoked the licenses of two physicians for failing to disclose the fact they were under investigation for ethical lapses in other states.

Dr. Gary F. Roberts and Dr. Jeffrey Stein were found guilty of renewing their Nevada licenses by misrepresentation and making false, misleading or inaccurate statements, according to the state board. Neither doctor was present for the hearing June 2 in Reno and did not send representatives.

Stein currently resides in Rockford, Ill. Roberts' last address was listed in Mesquite. Neither Stein nor Roberts could be reached for comment.

The medical board revoked the licenses of seven physicians last year, according to press releases posted on the board's website.

Dr. Cheryl Hug-English, the board's president, did not return phone calls from the Sun.

Roberts' license was restricted in Texas in August 1999 after he was investigated for inappropriate sexual contact with a male patient, according to that state's medical licensing board. Roberts quit therapy after three sessions with a psychiatrist and then prescribed anti-depressants for himself, the report showed.

In April 1999 Roberts filed to renew his Nevada license but failed to disclose the pending investigation in Texas, the Nevada board ruled. Roberts' license was revoked, a public reprimand has been issued and he must pay a fine of $1,927.

Stein was investigated in New York in 1999 for prescribing drugs to himself, including powerful painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-depressants, according to the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct. Stein was also investigated for prescribing medications to family members without keeping accurate records, according to the New York board.

Stein did not contest the charge of failing to maintain accurate patient records and received a censure and reprimand, according to public records filed with the New York medical board. He was also placed under monitoring conditions, including random drug testing, for a period of five years.

On his Nevada application for renewal, dated May 5, 1999, Stein answered "no" when asked if he had ever been investigated, charged or convicted for violating medical laws and regulations. That false answer constituted "conduct intended to deceive," the Nevada officials found.

In addition to having his license revoked, Stein received a public reprimand and must pay a fine of $2,030.

In other action, the board settled a complaint against a physician with an inactive license who was investigated in Ohio for substance abuse, including crack cocaine. The agreement reached between the Nevada board and the physician, Philip Wagman, states that his Nevada probation mirror the terms and conditions of the suspension handed down by the State Medical Board of Ohio.