Massena physician’s medical license suspended

MASSENA — A veteran physician with privileges at Massena Memorial Hospital has been indefinitely suspended from practicing medicine.

A hearing committee with the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Professional Misconduct determined Dr. Roger Sullivan, 60, was guilty of gross negligence, gross incompetence, and negligence and incompetence on more than one occasion.

The hearing committee also determined Dr. Sullivan had failed to maintain adequate patient records, was a habitual abuser of alcohol and practiced while impaired by alcohol, according to a public DOH report on the proceedings.

Dr. Sullivan’s office closed Oct. 25. On Oct. 28, the state suspended his license for at least one year.

The charges stemmed from incidents with seven patients Dr. Sullivan treated from 1994 to 2007. The allegations were “admitted” because of Dr. Sullivan’s failure to answer them within 10 days of the DOH hearing, the report stated.

“Moreover, the medical records received into evidence provide an ample basis upon which to sustain the charges,” the report stated.

Dr. Sullivan may petition the board after a year to lift his suspension. He was first licensed to practice medicine in September of 1986. In 1989, he obtained privileges at Massena Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Sullivan failed to appropriately evaluate and treat conditions, failed to maintain appropriate medical records and inappropriately prescribed and over-prescribed narcotics, according to the report. Dr. Sullivan also reportedly prescribed drugs for a patient with a known substance abuse problem, and “prescribed narcotics ... not indicated by her condition.” In a July 8, 2007 incident, Dr. Sullivan was reportedly impaired by alcohol when he treated a patient in the hospital’s emergency room.

The DOH board decided to suspend, and not revoke, Dr. Sullivan’s license because of the possibility for rehabilitation.

“The possibility of reinstatement may provide sufficient motivation to convince (Dr. Sullivan) to seek the help he so clearly needs,” the report stated.

Dr. Sullivan could not be reached for comment Friday. MMH Spokeswoman Tina R. Corcoran declined comment.