Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jan 2002
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2002 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Jim Killackey, The Oklahoman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

PLASTIC SURGEON'S LICENSE SUSPENDED FOR DRUG ABUSE

A state board on Friday suspended the medical license of Oklahoma City 
plastic surgeon Dr. Lori Hansen for two months because of her addiction to 
pain killers. Members of the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and 
Supervision were not convinced that Hansen has diligently sought treatments 
for both an abuse of the prescription drug hydrocodone and an alcohol problem.

Hansen, the wife of Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane, was 
scheduled to return Friday night from a three-day drug assessment program 
at a Chicago hospital.

Merle Gile, Hansen's attorney, said Friday that his client has been clean 
for at least 18 months.

Hansen will present her case to the licensure board at its next meeting on 
March 14, Gile said.

With a suspended license, she is not allowed to practice medicine at least 
until that March board meeting.

On Friday, Elizabeth A. Scott, an assistant attorney general assigned to 
the medical licensure board, said Hansen hasn't been forthright in trying 
to prove she's addressed her addictions.

"She can't give us any documentation to prove her sobriety. We have no 
proof ... that the public is protected," said Scott, adding that for 11 of 
the past 18 months, the board has no record that Hansen has tested negative 
for drug use.

Board members said they were shocked that Hansen was given the drug Xanax 
for anxiety when her drug problems were reported in the news media in November.

Doing that just compounded problems with any drug testing, board members said.

Attorney Gile, though, said that since summer 2000, Hansen has gone through 
an outpatient drug treatment program at Mercy Health Center and she has 
been seeing a marriage-and-family counselor and psychiatrist to help treat 
her addictive tendencies.

"I truly believe she's never posed any type of danger to the public. She 
has handled her problem," Gile said.

However, medical licensure board members were told that Hansen apparently 
wasn't serious about drug-abuse treatment and she didn't seek an assessment 
until the last minute under pressure from the board.

On Nov. 20, Hansen pleaded guilty to two felony drug charges and was given 
a one-year deferred sentence.

On Nov. 5, Hansen, 47, publicly said she was addicted to painkillers from 
January 1997 until June 2000.
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