Rhode Island Sanctions Two Physicians

Rhode Island Sanctions Two Physicians

Recently released documents by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) show the agency reprimanded two licensed physicians in the state this week. 

In one instance, a licensed doctor who issued himself a medical marijuana certification in Pennsylvania in violation of state code was also found to have violated Rhode Island state law. 

The other sanction was in reciprocity for a disciplinary action taken by the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Providence.

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Surgery Privileges “Permanently Reduced” 

According to RIDOH, on November 28, 2023, the Executive Committee for the Medical Staff of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center located in Providence permanently reduced Dr. David Heffernan’s surgery privileges “due to a standard of care assessment.”

RIDOH records show Heffernan has been licensed to practice in the state since 2007. 

This past June, RIDOH said that the Investigative Committee for the Board met and in reciprocity to the actions taken against Heffernan by the Providence Veteran Affairs Medical Center, found that he violated R.I. General Laws which states, in part, that the "surrender, revocation, suspension, or any other disciplinary action relating to a membership on any medical staff" shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the Board.

Heffernan was issued a reprimand on his Rhode Island license and was ordered to pay administrative fees in the amount of $1,100.00

 

Issuing Own Medical Marijuana Card 

According to RIDOH, Dr. Walter Stein — who has been licensed to practice medicine in Rhode Island since 1984 - had run afoul of the Pennsylvania state code. 

“On May 23, 2023, [Stein] and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Medicine agreed upon the entry of an order relating to his license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in which [Stein] issued a medical marijuana certification to himself in violation of [Pennsylvania statute and code],” reported RIDOH. “The marijuana certification was to treat a qualifying medical condition.”

“Pennsylvania imposed a penalty in the amount of $2,500.00, a reprimand on [Stein’s] license, and twenty hours of remedial education,” RIDOH continued.

Stein then self-reported the Pennsylvania action to the Board in Rhode Island on September 27, 2023.

The state then took action ten months later. 

The Investigative Committee of the Board met on July 31, 2024, and, in reciprocity to the actions taken against Stein by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, found that he violated R.I. General Laws, which states, in part, that any disciplinary action against a license or authorization to practice medicine in another state "constitutes unprofessional conduct."

Stein was issued a reprimand on his Rhode Island license and ordered to pay administrative fees in the amount of $1,100.00.