Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jun 2013
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2013 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: Felice Freyer

STATE REPRIMANDS DOCTOR FOR IMPROPER MARIJUANA-CARD CERTIFICATIONS FOR TEENS

The state medical board has disciplined two doctors for improper 
prescribing practices, including one who authorized medical marijuana 
for two 16-year-olds without checking with their doctors.

Dr. Soneath L. Pond, an internist, wrote a medical-marijuana 
certification for a 16-year-old girl without obtaining full 
information from other providers who were taking care of her, 
according to a consent order between Pond and the state Board of 
Medical Licensure and Discipline. Had he checked with her other 
doctors, the order said, Pond would have learned she suffered from 
anorexia, not a valid diagnosis for issuing a medical marijuana card, 
and that her treatment providers at Hasbro Children's Hospital had 
recommended against marijuana.

The other 16-year-old was being treated for migraines, ADHD and 
anxiety and her treatment providers had told the patient and her 
parents that marijuana was interfering with her treatment, the order said.

Pond agreed to a reprimand and also resigned from the facility where 
he worked because of concerns about that facility's protocols.

Dr. William Braden, a Butler Hospital psychiatrist, was placed on 
probation for two years after the medical board found "multiple areas 
of concern," including early renewal of controlled substances, 
inadequate documentation and failure to enter into pain management 
agreements with patients using controlled substances.

In April, Braden completed a training program at the University of 
Florida. The board ordered him to follow a series of protocols for 
prescribing controlled substances for his current patients, to be 
monitored by another psychiatrist for 12 months, and to not accept 
new pain patients.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom