Pembroke doctor accused of using drugs

PEMBROKE - A hearing has been scheduled next month for a Pembroke doctor accused of using drugs and alcohol despite his repeated promises to the state Medical Board that he would not do so.

Dr. Paul D. Collins, who voluntarily surrendered his license on July 31, is expected to go before the board on Oct. 17 to respond to charges that he engaged in unprofessional behavior and failed to conform to the ethics of the medical profession.

Collins is a family physician with West Primary Urgent Care in Pembroke. The Medical Board officially notified Collins of the charges against on Aug. 31, according to Dale Breaden, a spokesman for the licensing board.

The notice of charges says that on July 6 “Dr. Collins was at work appearing lethargic, incoherent, glassy-eyed and unresponsive to questions.”

Collins was taken to a hospital, where it was learned he had taken 150 milligrams of dextromethorphan to combat a panic attack, the notice said.

The board says the action violated the terms of the consent order issued in May. At that time, Collins agreed that he “would not use mind- or mood-altering substances” unless prescribed by another physician. He also agreed to avoid using alcohol, according to the notice. Both were conditions of his continuing to practice medicine.

"Dr. Collins' continued substance abuse constitutes Dr. Collins being unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, drunkenness, excessive use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals or any other type of material or by reason of any physical and mental abnormality," the notice states.

Collins, 32, could not be reached for comment. He was affiliated with Scotland Memorial Hospital in Laurinburg.

When Collins was first licensed to practice medicine and surgery in January 2005, he was required to enter into a consent order with the state Medical Board to obtain his license. The board required the order because of Collins' history of abusing alcohol and marijuana, and because of multiple arrests on driving while impaired charges, the notice said.

The board said Collins violated the consent order about a year after it was issued by testing positive for alcohol during a drug screening.

Collins voluntarily surrendered his license on March 13, 2006, and the board suspended his license indefinitely that July. On May 25, 2007, the state Medical Board reinstated Collins' license with the consent order.

Collins is a 2001 graduate of Wake Forest University School of Medicine.


http://www.robesonian.com/articles/2007/09...ews/story01.txt

[vapor]

Collins was taken to a hospital, where it was learned he had taken 150 milligrams of dextromethorphan to combat a panic attack, the notice said.

lol nice dodge.....