Psychiatrist's license suspended over prescription allegations

According to this report

A Bellevue psychiatrist's license has been suspended after state licensing authorities said he prescribed medications to a patient knowing the patient planned to give them to his girlfriend.

Earlier this year, the patient overdosed on the drugs, but recovered.

According to the commission's statement, Dr. Milton M. Ashley intentionally misled the investigation by saying he didn't know the drugs would be used by the patient's girlfriend.

The action is the second time Ashley, 83, has come to the attention of the state's Medical Quality Assurance Commission, according to the statement of charges. In 1995, he entered into an agreement to keep better records, not prescribe drugs with high abuse risk, not prescribe medications for family members and confine his practice to psychotherapy.

He was released from the requirements of the agreement in 1999. But further complaints led to a new investigation, said Lisa Noonan, disciplinary manager for the commission.

Those investigations found that he did not take adequate care in prescribing medications presenting a potential for abuse, failed to perform physicals and histories, develop treatment plans or verify medical information.

The action by the commission means Ashley must immediately stop practicing as a physician pending the outcome of a hearing.

Ashley has 20 days to respond to the charges.