Embattled doctor misses board licensing hearing

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An embattled Henry County doctor failed to appear before the Indiana Medical Licensing Board Thursday, according to the board's director.

Last month, the board voted 6-0 to extend the suspension of Dr. Phillip Foley's medical license for an additional 90 days.

Thursday, after Foley missed the meeting, the board issued Foley a notice requiring him to respond. Board Director Kristen Kelley said she doesn't expect Foley to respond. If he doesn't, the board can take action on his license next month without him being present, Kelley said.

Foley is from Middletown, about 40 miles east of Indianapolis. State officials say he wrote painkiller prescriptions that caused or contributed to nine overdose deaths.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller has called Foley a "clear and immediate danger" to public safety. His office has said nine people died from drug overdoses between 2004 and 2009 after Foley prescribed them a variety of painkillers, depressants, muscle relaxants and other drugs, often without examining them.