Pills, pills, pills

A pharmacy technician in Salem had her license yanked last month for helping herself to more than 200 dosage units of various drugs during the course of her employment at a Kroger pharmacy.

Rebecca Dressler, according to this order, told investigators from the VA Department of Health that she diverted:

139 dosage units of butalbital — commonly used for treatment of headaches
43 dosage units of carisprodol — a muscle relaxant
30 dosage units of fluoxetine — an antidepressant
5 dosage units of hydrocodone — pain relief

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Best,

Your VaDocWatch admin

Farifax doctor entered psychotherapy

Michael Hryvniak, a doctor from Fairfax, performed a psychiatric evaluation of a patient in April ’05 who had “multi-faceted and complex psychiatric issues,” according to a consent order filed in May. The order was not available on the database and was sent to me via snail mail. In July, Hryvniak began psychotherapy treatment on the patient and subsequently began a personal and sexual relationship with this patient for about two months that same year (May to July.)

Hryvniak ended the relationship and took a voluntary leave of absence  in August ’06 as a result of the relationship. Hryvniak checked himself in to a treatment center in Kansas and underwent some major individual psychotherapy and medication management. It is not clear in the order what exactly was wrong with Hyrvniak.

These days, the doctor is attending AA meetings 3-4 times a week. He voluntarily stopped practicing in August during his leave of absence and hopes to practice again with the board’s go ahead.

Hryvniak was apologetic to the board and his profession, the order says.

So, the board has put this guy on indefinite probation.  If he wants to practice again he must win approval from the Executive Director of the Board of Medicine and have a “practice monitor” with whom he meets and discusses cases. Hryvniak must continue undergoing therapy and attend AA meetings. He also has to take some continuing education classes. Hryvniak will be reassessed in 18 months.

More sexual abuse in the office

Samuel Suk Syn, an acupuncturist, had his license revoked in June after instances of touching patients in a sexual way for his own arousal.

In April of ’02, Syn engaged in sexual conduct with a patient who considered it lewd and offensive, the order says.

On Aug. 5 and 8 ’04 during an office visit Syn “engaged in conduct sexual in nature” with another patient, the consent order reads. In Nov. ’04 Syn was also found guilty of sexual battery in Fredericksburg, a class I misdemeanor.

This is not Syn’s first appearance before the board. In 1999 Syn falsely advertised his name by not clarifying what O.M.D. stands for (doctor of oriental medicine.) He also listed himself as “Dr.”

Even better, Syn admitted to the board that his patient records were kept in Korean and therefore difficult to translate for members of the board.

The board dismissed the case and told Syn to fix the advertisement.

In Feb ’04, Arizona approved Syn’s application to practice in that state, two years after sexual misconduct here in Virginia and just months before more abuse. The Arizona board asked if Syn had complied with the Virginia consent order by fixing his advertising. He said yes and was thanked for his time.

Syn’s Virginia license was to expire in June as it was, the same month the license was revoked. Was Syn trying to get out of the state before he was caught? Luckily, a search on the Arizona database does not reveal Syn practicing in that state.

Update

Hey folks,

The Department of Heath Professionals Database is down right now. I’ll have an update as soon as it is up and running. I’m headed out-of-town for the weekend, but stop by Monday to check out the latest violations of professionals in your area.

Upcoming cases

I’ve been searching through documents and it appears that, thus far, August has been a bust month for the board. There have been a few revocations and suspensions in a number of different medical fields already. Those documents, however, have not yet been posted. Just as soon as they are, I will have an update. I just wanted to give you guys a heads up… Until then, enjoy the next entry!

To report a violation

To file a complaint or to report possible violations by a Virginia health care practitioner, telephone toll-free: 1-800-533-1560 or (804) 662-9956, (804) 662-9579, (804) 662-9934 or (804) 662-9902, Monday-Friday, 8:15 am – 5:00pm.