A Florida administrative regulation decide final week dominated that Dr. Joseph Dorn didn’t do something improper when he ordered medical hashish for 2 undercover investigators posing as sufferers, the Tallahassee Democrat experiences. The state Division of Well being (DOH) had sought to revoke Dorn’s medical license for 5 years, completely ban him from recommending medical hashish, and impose a $10,000 tremendous.
The Well being Division had alleged Dorn violated state regulation by not performing physicals on the undercover brokers who posed as sufferers looking for medical hashish playing cards, which they known as using a “trick or scheme” within the observe of medication.
Dorn has practiced medication in Florida for greater than 30 years and the allegations stem from a 2019 grievance associated to the sting.
In his order, Administrative Regulation Decide W. David Watkins beneficial that the grievance towards Dorn be dismissed, saying that well being officers “didn’t current competent substantial proof, on this case, establishing … that Dr. Dorn acted, or didn’t act, in any method to defraud or trick any affected person, or that any affected person was truly defrauded or tricked,” in keeping with the Democrat report.
“The proof of document undermines DOH’s argument that Dr. Dorn’s observe is nothing greater than an ‘open gate’ to medical marijuana. Within the case of each [undercover agent] O.G. and [undercover agent] B.D. (and presumably the opposite 28 sufferers examined), Dr. Dorn performed an in depth and thorough evaluation of the affected person’s situation previous to prescribing medical marijuana. Moreover, the preponderance of the competent substantial proof on this case demonstrates that Dr. Dorn carried out a significant evaluate of O.G. and B.D.’s medical historical past and signs, recognized and mentioned their qualifying stressors, and famous the PTSD (post-traumatic stress dysfunction) signs being skilled by every.” – Watkins, in his opinion, by way of the Democrat
Below administrative regulation, the order will go to the Well being Division for last motion.
In a ready assertion following the ruling, Dorn’s legal professional, Ryan Andrews, accused the state of “inflicting crippling stress and ache” on his consumer because the physician continued to deal with sufferers following the investigation. Andrews threatened to take authorized motion towards state officers concerned within the grievance.
“This motion didn’t sound in good religion and now it’s our flip to hunt justice and proper this improper towards everybody concerned,” Andrews mentioned within the assertion. “This whole motion towards Dr. Dorn is a humiliation and disservice to the state of Florida. Dr. Dorn is worked up to proceed treating sufferers with out these baseless and dangerous accusations hanging over his head.”
The Well being Division didn’t touch upon the ruling.
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