Some Oklahoma prison doctors, medical staff have less-than-spotless backgrounds, records show

10-8-2012 Oklahoma:

Numerous doctors and other licensed medical staff working for the Oklahoma Corrections Department have less-than-spotless pasts, public records show.

Many former prison medical staff had checkered histories, as well.

The group includes doctors with long struggles with substance abuse, a physician assistant disciplined for writing fictitious prescriptions and a former high-ranking official who left the state after allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female employees.

Such medical professionals, those with checkered pasts, commonly work for state agencies such as the state Corrections Department, said Lyle Kelsey, executive director of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.

“Sometimes, doctors that have been disciplined by the medical board and allowed to keep their medical license have a tough time finding employment,” Kelsey said. “Due to the discipline, physicians may also find they are unable to be included as network providers on insurance programs.”

Kelsey said these realities often force doctors and other medical staff to find jobs working for the government. Medical professionals with disciplinary records also work at the state Department of Veterans Affairs and medical facilities at Fort Sill, a federal installation.

Disciplined in the past

Several medical professionals currently employed by the state Corrections Department have been disciplined for substance abuse in the past — some of them multiple times.

Joel B. McCurdy, a medical doctor, is a regional supervising physician ....continued... by Andrew Knittle