A suspended Fort Wayne doctor's appeal was denied this morning and will return to court in February to face potentially steeper penalties.
Indiana's medical licensing board wants to dig deeper into the allegations.
Dr. William Hedrick is accused of contributing to multiple patient deaths due to over prescribing pain medications, and negligent medical practices by the state Attorney General's office.
Hedrick and the A.G.'s office worked out a settlement that would have suspended his medical license for at least two years but the medical board wanted more details.
Hedrick is the founder of Centers for Pain Relief in Northern Indiana.
Since December 3rd -- he's been on temporary suspension.
Today the state's medical licensing board rejected his settlement offer.
"And decided that they did not want to accept the agreement. They wanted to hear the state's case and Hedrick's case in a full hearing next month," Attorney General's Office Public Information Officer Erin Reece says.
Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office filed a formal complaint against him accusing the doctor of over-prescribing narcotics- practicing unsafe drug mixing- and other charges- resulting in Zoeller's office saying Hedrick was a 'substantial threat to patients.'
Today's settlement would have suspended his license for at least two years.
At that time, Hedrick would have to petition for reinstatement from the medical board.
"If the board was to decide- ok, we're going to let you, take you off suspension; he would've been under probation for another four years at minimum. And during that six-year time, he would not be able to prescribe controlled substances," Reece says.
Hedrick and his lawyers were unavailable for comment today.
Representatives for the medical licensing board were also unavailable for comment.
Reece says the board wanted to look further into the charges.
"It seemed as though they shared concerns over the serious allegations against him and they opted to hear more details on the case instead of accepting the agreement," Reece says.
Hedrick returns in front of the board for a full hearing on February 28th.
He's still currently on temporary 90-day suspension.
Indiana's medical licensing board wants to dig deeper into the allegations.
Dr. William Hedrick is accused of contributing to multiple patient deaths due to over prescribing pain medications, and negligent medical practices by the state Attorney General's office.
Hedrick and the A.G.'s office worked out a settlement that would have suspended his medical license for at least two years but the medical board wanted more details.
Hedrick is the founder of Centers for Pain Relief in Northern Indiana.
Since December 3rd -- he's been on temporary suspension.
Today the state's medical licensing board rejected his settlement offer.
"And decided that they did not want to accept the agreement. They wanted to hear the state's case and Hedrick's case in a full hearing next month," Attorney General's Office Public Information Officer Erin Reece says.
Attorney General Greg Zoeller's office filed a formal complaint against him accusing the doctor of over-prescribing narcotics- practicing unsafe drug mixing- and other charges- resulting in Zoeller's office saying Hedrick was a 'substantial threat to patients.'
Today's settlement would have suspended his license for at least two years.
At that time, Hedrick would have to petition for reinstatement from the medical board.
"If the board was to decide- ok, we're going to let you, take you off suspension; he would've been under probation for another four years at minimum. And during that six-year time, he would not be able to prescribe controlled substances," Reece says.
Hedrick and his lawyers were unavailable for comment today.
Representatives for the medical licensing board were also unavailable for comment.
Reece says the board wanted to look further into the charges.
"It seemed as though they shared concerns over the serious allegations against him and they opted to hear more details on the case instead of accepting the agreement," Reece says.
Hedrick returns in front of the board for a full hearing on February 28th.
He's still currently on temporary 90-day suspension.
