Texas Medical Board Suspends
Dr. O'Neal's License
On May 24, 2010, a panel of the Texas Medical Board suspended the license of Don Martin O'Neal, M.D., of Sulphur Springs, after determining that Dr. O'Neal's continuation in the practice of medicine presents a continuing threat to public health and safety.
The temporary suspension hearing took place under the Board's authority, granted by Medical Practice Act, to suspend or restrict a physicians license when it determines the physician's continuation in practice would be a a threat to the public welfare. The suspension is effective immediately.
The action was based on the following findings: In November 2008, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Dr. O'Neal due to pharmacist's report of suspicious prescribing. The DEA found Dr. O'Neal had prescribed for 40 to 50 of his patients significant quantities of methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone and benzodiazepines.
In August 2009, in order to avoid further investigation and possible criminal charges, Dr. O'Neal voluntarily surrendered his DEA certificate which had authorized him to practice controlled substances.
Dr. O'Neal worked at a clinic called Sulphur Springs Medical Surgical Clinic, which treats patients at several nursing homes in Sulphur Springs. In January 2010, a colleague of Dr. O'Neal was reviewing patient charts and discovered that 38 out of Dr. O'Neal's 78 patients had controlled drug orders countersigned using the colleague's signature stamp. The colleague and never authorized for O'Neal to use his signature stamp.
On April 13, 2010, Dr. O'Neal was arrested and charged with 33 felony counts alleging fraud for ordering narcotic perspirations without valid DEA registration by fraudulently using the license or authorization stamp of anther physician. On April 26, 2010, Dr. O'Neal was arrested again and charged with an additional 22 counts alleging fraud for ordering and administrating controlled substances without valid DEA registration.
The length of a temporary suspension is indefinite and it remains in effect until the board takes further action.
