Doctor Who Was Repeatedly Suspended Is Reinstated by RIDOH
GoLocalProv News Team
Doctor Who Was Repeatedly Suspended Is Reinstated by RIDOH
Grillo's last medical license suspension came after he allegedly refused to comply with state-mandated substance testing requirements, which date back to a 2011 DUI arrest.
In August 2024, GoLocal reported, "Barrington Doctor’s License Suspended for Third Time - Now, He Is a Lawyer, Too."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“RIDOH summarily suspended the medical license of Dr. Joseph Grillo for ‘his repeated and intentional violations of the express terms of a Consent Order entered and ratified by the Board on March 11, 2020,’” GoLocal reported.
As GoLocal reported, Grillo had successfully petitioned the RIDOH board in 2014 to have his license reinstated; it had been suspended again in 2015.
When GoLocal spoke with Grillo in 2024, he said he was going to fight the latest suspension.
Now, RIDOH has amended the 2020 consent order and allowed Grillo to practice again.
Latest RIDOH Action
In reinstating Grillo’s license, RIDOH and Grill agreed to new substance abuse monitoring protocols, amending the 2020 consent order.
According to RIDOH:
The parties agree that all monitoring that was performed by the Rhode Island Physicians Health Program under the terms of the March 11, 2020 Consent Order shall now be conducted by a third-party monitor, Hired Power, located in Huntington Beach, California.
The testing and monitoring protocol to be implemented by Hired Power shall be pre-approved by the Chief Administrative Officer Staci A. Fischer, MD, prior to its implementation. Said testing and monitoring protocol shall include a DNA-verified urine drug screening component that requires Respondent to perform a DNA swab while on live video with Respondent's case manager. Test specimens will be sent to a pre-approved lab to create a baseline data point.
Random urine drug tests shall be required at a time and day established by Respondent's case manager. Any required test that is not completed by Respondent at the time ordered by his case manager shall constitute a positive test result and could prompt testing of other samples and tissues to determine whether Respondent has violated the terms of his agreement to refrain from the use of non-prescribed drugs, including alcohol.
Furthermore, Hired Power shall provide Dr. Fischer with quarterly monitoring reports concerning all testing performed upon Respondent and shall immediately notify Dr. Fischer of any failure by Respondent to perform a required or requested drug/alcohol test.
RIDOH goes on to state that any violation of the terms can suspend Grillo’s license again or other disciplinary actions.
Grillo did not respond to request for comment at time of publication.
This story was first published 2/13/25 4:56 PM