CT medical board recommends probation for physician assistant for alcohol abuse

A physician assistant was recommended to be placed on probation for two years by the Connecticut Medical Examining Board on Tuesday because of an alleged history of alcohol abuse.Akiva Bronstein, who recently worked at Griffin Hospital in Derby, also must show that he is undergoing psychotherapy every two weeks and must not drink alcohol or take non-prescribed drugs, according to the board.Bronstein previously was placed on probation for one year in 2018 for alleged abuse of alcohol, according to the board.The board’s recommendation to the Department of Public Health followed a three-member hearing held because Bronstein contested the health department’s charges against him.The department charged Bronstein had abused alcohol between June 2020 and June 2022 on multiple occasions and had an illness, which does and/or may “affect his practice as a physician assistant,” according to the memorandum of decision. Bronstein denied the charges.The examining board’s panel found that Bronstein has an alleged history of alcohol abuse and had alleged relapsed over the last three years “with intermittent periods of sobriety,” according to the memorandum.On June 10, 2022, he was charged with driving and carrying a firearm while having a blood alcohol level of 0.3273%, according to the board. On or about that day, he resigned from his job, the memorandum states.On June 11, he admitted himself to the hospital Emergency Department for alcohol withdrawal and admitted to heavy drinking “over the past few years,” it states. He was admitted to the Health Assistance Intervention Education Network.From June 27 to July 25, Bronstein entered a residential treatment program, where he was diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder and anxiety disorder, the memorandum states. On Aug. 8, he entered a sober living facility. His urine was negative for drugs and alcohol until Sept. 27 and 24 times thereafter, it states.The memorandum states Bronstein’s alleged abuse and/or excess use of alcohol affects his practice as a physician assistant but that there is insufficient evidence that his alleged anxiety disorder affects his practice.In addition to his probation and therapy, the board required Bronstein to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings an average of five to six times per week and provide monthly reports on his attendance.The board also recommended discipline against Dr. Barbara G. Orrok, a psychiatrist with Fair Haven Community Health Care in New Haven. According to the board’s memorandum of decision, Orrok was referred by the state Department of Developmental Services for allegedly failing to meet the standard of care.She allegedly failed to monitor Depakote levels in a patient, failed to order appropriate bloodwork and failed to maintain adequate medical records, the memorandum states. Depakote is used to treat bipolar disorder.The board recommended Orrok be fined the maximum $10,000 civil penalty and reprimanded. She has taken a two-day prescribing practices course.Ed Stannard can be reached at estannard@courant.com.

Buy cryptocurrency

Source link

Refer And Earn Demat Account – Get ₹300 | Referral Program

Open Demat Account In Angel One For FREE