Doctor licensing board official not recommending sanctions

Though state health inspectors reported in February that a Las Vegas physician reused syringes and vials on multiple patients, the executive director for a physicians' licensing board said Tuesday that the doctor, Scott Young, should not face serious disciplinary action.

"It is not my recommendation to inhibit his ability to practice," said Dr. Larry Tarno, the top administrator of the Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. "His version of the story is much different. ... His peers are very comfortable working with him."

Tarno's comments came the day when the entire osteopathic board, which had received a formal complaint against the physician, was to consider a settlement agreement that Tarno proposed with Young, who is not associated with the hepatitis cases linked to clinics owned by Dr. Dipak Desai.

A 23-page report issued by the state's Bureau of Licensure and Certification recounts the inspection of the Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic on Maryland Parkway, where Young was working in February.

Inspectors observed the anesthesiologist working on four patients. Unsafe injection practices were witnessed.

Young's case was scheduled as the seventh order of business on the board's evening agenda, which had been sent to media outlets. But Young's lawyer, John Cotton, said Tuesday afternoon that neither he nor his client had received notice of the meeting.

"This has never happened to me before," Cotton said.

Young, who still has privileges at hospitals throughout Southern Nevada, was unavailable for comment.

Tarno said the mixup in notification probably occurred because of staff changes at the board.

Cotton also said neither he nor his client saw the proposed settlement that Tarno said he and another board member had prepared.

"It's difficult to agree to something you haven't seen," Cotton said.

Tarno would not reveal what is in the proposed settlement.

"You have to remember that the board may disagree with the proposed settlement and ask that a full hearing be held," Tarno said. "The board could put him on probation."

Tarno said Young's case will now probably be scheduled for September.

The state report, which did not name Young, details the allegations of unsafe practices that were undertaken at the clinic. The Review-Journal was able to confirm Young was the physician in question.

"The anesthesiologist was asked what the process was when he went from a used Propofol (anesthesia) vial to a new patient," the report said. "The anesthesiologist states he would change the needle and reuse the same syringe."

According to the report, the anesthesiologist was "never observed opening new syringes."

The report also disclosed how the anesthetic was reused: "The anesthesiologist was observed drawing up Propofol from the same vial that he had used on Patient 3 to inject Patient 4."

Tarno said he has not read the state report at the core of the formal complaint about unsafe injection practices, but he believes the board member who conducted the inquiry had. He would not reveal the name of the board member.

Tarno said he does not believe the testimony of the individual who brought the formal complaint would stand up in court.

"We do not want to get overturned," he said. "What we propose has to stand up to the scrutiny of a judge."

Dorothy Sims, the registered nurse and health surveyor who signed the state report, said Tuesday nothing has changed in the report. She would not comment further.

The report led to Young's dismissal at the Maryland Parkway facility. June Likourinou, the director of nursing, said in March that she didn't believe what Young did in front of state investigators was the norm for him. Yet she said action had to be taken.

"We had to fire him for it," she said. "It can't be tolerated."

Contact reporter Paul Harasim at pharasim@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2908.