Board suspends doc's medical license

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The verdict is in on a Central Indiana doctor accused of prescribing narcotics that the state said led to the deaths of ten patients.

The Medical Licensing Board of Indiana suspended the license of Dr. Phillip Foley. The move comes as a blow not only to Foley, but also some of his patients.

“It’s a witch hunt, but it has always been a witch hunt," Foley said Thursday.

Foley was unapologetic and defiant outside his hearing, but that didn’t stop the medical licensing board from unanimously voting to suspend his license. This after, Foley tried in vain to surrender his license himself before the hearing; a move the Attorney General’s office blocked.

“They told my lawyer that they’re going to suspend my license and they haven’t heard my side of the story at all,” Foley added.

The board bought the Attorney General’s exhaustive argument that from January 05’ through May 08’; Dr. Foley wrote more than 96,000 prescriptions more than any doctor in Indiana. Literally, hundreds every day, they said, without proper medical checkups, leading to numerous fatal overdoses.

“We feel he’s an imminent danger to the public. Not only because of the volume of controlled substances involved here, but also the combination," said Abigail Kuzma, Director of the Indiana Consumer Protection Division.

Outside the hearing, the doctor was surrounded by dozens of angry supporters all of whom also agreed the proceedings against the doctor amounted to a witch hunt.

“They drag his name through the dirt," said Cindy Davis, one of Dr. Foley's patients. "Yeah, he may write prescriptions, but he documents everything and they’re only after him because he takes initiative and he dares to treat. He cares and he dares to treat us because he loves us.”

Foley himself blasted the state investigation saying his office always gives proper medical checkups and was not responsible for any deaths. He refused to enter the hearing room saying the board was already plotting against him. Ultimately, the state submitted stacks and stacks of evidence in the case against Foley.

“I don’t hate or despise these people. I can’t do that. I’m a Christian. I know they’re trying to do their job, but they’re doing the wrong job," Foley said.

Dr. Foley’s license remains suspended for 90 days pending further investigation. His attorney Mark Rutherford appeared, but also left before the hearing. Another hearing will determine whether his license will be permanently revoked. A date hasn’t been set yet.