Monday, June 30, 2008

Levine facing criminal charges, disclipinary action arising from drug treatment program


A former Mason County physician faces not only criminal charges for drug-related offenses, but also disciplinary action for alleged "sexual misconduct" with three female patients who were part of a drug treatment program.

On June 10, the Pike County, Ohio, grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Dr. Jack M. Levine. According to the indictment, Levine is charged with two counts each of illegal processing of drug documents, deception to obtain a dangerous drug and trafficking in drugs.

In a letter dated the next day, the State Medical Board of Ohio notified Levine that it "intends to determine whether or not to limit, revoke, permanently revoke, suspend, refuse to register or reinstate your certificate to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery, or to reprimand you or place you on probation." The Board's action stems from inappropriate comments made toward or touching of female patients part of a Suboxone treatment program.

Suboxone is a brand-name drug used as a replacement for methadone to treat people addicted to opioids such as heroin.

Though it is unclear if both the indictment and disciplinary action are related, both refer to alleged actions taken by Levine in 2007.

For more on this article, go to The West Virginia Record

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