Saturday, February 17, 2007

Psychiatrist seeks reinstatement of medical license

From the Muscatine Journal in Iowa

Muscatine psychiatrist James A. Yeltatzie is seeking reinstatement of his license that was pulled by the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners more than a year ago.

Yeltatzie’s license was suspended in December 2005 for allegedly engaging in professional incompetence and practice that was harmful or detrimental to the public. It was the most recent and severe of the Board’s disciplinary actions against him, beginning in 1991.

A hearing on his request for reinstatement was held Thursday afternoon at the Muscatine County courthouse.

According to officials at the courthouse, approximately a half dozen protesters held signs and chanted in support of Yeltatzie near the main entrance just prior to his court appearance.

Yeltatzie’s lawyer, John Wunder, Muscatine, said Friday the punishment was too harsh for the violations for which his client was cited.

“Despite the fact that he has now been twice before the Board, he is still a good psychiatrist,” Wunder said. “The request for judicial review is not that discipline was unwarranted — it (license revocation) was essentially a death penalty for his career.”

Judge Patrick Madden, who heard the reinstatement appeal Thursday, is reviewing the case.

Yeltatzie, 47, received a license to practice in Iowa in 1988.

Years of controversy have surrounded the actions of the psychiatrist, who is apparently liked by many of his patients, yet has been accused of multiple counts of misconduct by others.

According to state records:
  • In 1991, Yeltatzie’s license was suspended after he was accused of making improper physical contact and advances to three patients. He also was cited for possession of marijuana and filing a false license application with the state Board.

  • In 1994, his license was reinstated and he was placed on probation for five years.

  • In 1999, Yeltatzie was charged with violating his probation. The Board accused him of practicing outside of psychiatry, improperly using controlled or prescription drugs and not filing required reports with the Board.

    He was fined $6,000 and required to submit to a psychiatric evaluation and treatment by a Board-approved psychiatrist.

  • In 2002, the Board began receiving complaints about Yeltatzie, including his prescribing practices, practicing outside the scope of psychiatry and failure to return phone calls. Multiple investigations took place and the Board began a peer review in late 2005.

    That investigation resulted in the 2005 license revocation.

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