A well-known medical marijuana doctor with several pain management offices throughout Michigan including Mt. Pleasant had his license suspended in December after a state attorney general sting operation found improper patient evaluation practices before prescribing narcotics.
Dr. Robert “Bob” Townsend, owner of 10 Denali Healthcare offices throughout the state, says the complaint against him does not involve overdoses, deaths or over-prescriptions and that it speaks to how he evaluated – not how he treated – patients.
Townsend said he and his attorneys are working with the AG’s office and are optimistic he will be practicing again soon, he said.
Three times in late 2014 and early 2015 an undercover investigator posed as a patient in the Marquette Denali office and obtained prescriptions for both Voltaren sodium, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID; and Norco, a Schedule II opioid pain medication, according to the complaint against Townsend.
At the first meeting on Dec. 15, 2014, the investigator said Townsend failed to conduct a physical examination, obtain medical records or discuss alternative pain management options before prescribing the drugs, “Despite the fact the undercover investigator informing (Townsend) that she felt ‘great’ that day,” according to the complaint.
The investigator was charged $300 for the visit, which she paid in cash.
On Jan. 26 of 2015, the investigator returned to the clinic to renew her Norco prescription, telling Townsend her pain level was “a zero” on medication. The complaint claims Townsend again did not conduct a physical examination, obtain medical records or discuss alternative pain management options.
Townsend increased her prescription from 45 Norco tablets to 90 and renewed her Voltaren prescription, charging the investigator $125 cash for the visit, according to the complaint.
On her third visit on Feb. 25, 2015 the investigator saw a nurse who renewed both prescriptions; the investigator was again charged $125 according to the complaint.
Based on those three investigations, the AG’s office brought before the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, a state disciplinary board, four counts against Townsend – negligence or failure to execute due care; incompetence; selling, prescribing, giving away, or administering drugs for other than lawful diagnostic or therapeutic purposes; and failure to comply with a subpoena for six patient records requested by the AG’s office within the deadline given.
The AG’s complaint against Townsend was filed Dec. 17, immediately causing his license to be suspended.
Townsend had 30 days to appeal the suspension with the state’s Bureau of Professional Licensing which he did and lost; now he says he is in discussions with the AG’s office and hopes to appeal to the medical board again when they next meet.
The complaint is about how he evaluated patients rather than how he treated them, a practice he now intends to change in his practice, Townsend said.
“While we do not agree there was improper medical care provided, the practice has made some adjustments to its procedures to take into account better evaluation of the primary condition of the patient, rather than concentrating solely on the treatment strategy of the patients,” he wrote.
Townsend’s patients include not only those seeking pain management or addiction therapy, but also many who are medical marijuana card holders. Some of those medical marijuana cards have or will soon expire, and Townsend can’t issue or renew cards while his medical license is suspended.
“We’re looking forward to returning to our Denali practices shortly,” he said, noting he’s had over 270 letters of support from his patients.
“Some renewals are on standby as we wait,” Townsend said. “We’re making arrangements to help them.”
