Nevada medical board suspends doctor after drug probe
A Las Vegas orthopaedic surgeon was suspended from practicing medicine this week after admitting to using drugs that police found in his home, according to the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners.
Las Vegas police got a warrant to search Dr. Andrew S. Martin’s Henderson home after a request by an investigative committee of the medical board. Officers executed the search Saturday, where the medical board said they found cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana and ecstasy.
According to the medical board, Martin told officers that “he is a user of the drugs.”
Martin’s suspension went into effect Tuesday. He has been licensed in Nevada since 2005 and has recently worked at ASM Orthopedics and at Desert Orthopaedic Center, which has four locations throughout the valley. The center could not be reached for comment on his suspension.
The medical board typically suspends fewer than a dozen doctors per year. There is no appeal process.
“It’s got to be pretty grave for us to suspend,” medical board Executive Director Douglas Cooper said Thursday.
Martin’s first hearing on the matter is Oct. 15 in Reno. Two more will follow, including an evidientiary hearing where both he and the medical board can present evidence and give testimony. Then a formal synopsis will be written and presented at the next medical board meeting. If Martin’s case progresses quickly enough, that will be December 5.
As of Thursday, Martin faced no criminal charges.
Contact reporter Annalise Little at alittle@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0391. Find her on Twitter: @annalisemlittle.
