Dr. Earl's license reinstated

Hearing still pending

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake physician David Earl is seeing patients again after his license was reinstated Dec. 6.

Earl said he received the news of his reinstatement Tuesday.

"It's a big relief," he said. "I love my job, and I'm looking forward to being able to treat patients again."

The state Department of Health announced the suspension of Earl's license Sept. 24, accusing the physician of allegedly contributing to the deaths of four patients and improperly medicating five others, placing them at risk.

The state claims Earl reportedly provided excessive amounts of medications to patients, ignored evidence of patients becoming addicted or abusing medications, experiencing drug toxicity and for allegedly placing patients at an increased health risk, according to state documents.

Earl was also accused of improperly providing medications to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent.

Earl said he filed an appeal with the state after the initial finding, asking them to reverse their decision to suspend his license.

"It always seemed like the system would work in my favor, eventually," Earl said. "I could not understand how long it took. I still don't understand how long it took. But it's been a long break, and I'm glad to be back at work."

State Department of Health Disciplinary Manager Erin Obenland said Earl now has a restricted license and cannot prescribe medicine or supervise physician assistants.

He is unsure at this point whether the charges have impacted his patient base.

Earl has been a physician in Moses Lake since 1991 and a physician since 1988. He specializes in adult medicine and preventative care. After his license was suspended, Earl worked out of his office at Pioneer Medical Center but was not seeing patients.

He said he could not discuss individual problems or cases because a state hearing is still pending.

"The law actually dictates that the least severe form of punishment should be the first option, and that is not what they chose," Earl said. "They chose the most severe punishment."

The results of the state hearing will determine if Earl is to be punished for the charges leveled at him by the state and DEA.

The DEA issues licenses to doctors to prescribe medicine. When physicians are accused of abusing the privilege they are investigated by the DEA, according to DEA public information officer Rhett Fonseca.

Their results are provided to the state Department of Health to determine if the accusations are true and what punishment should be administered in regards to the doctor's medical license. They can revoke the license, issue fines or require the doctor to work under specific conditions.