Earl cancels interview, patients come forward
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake physician David T. Earl canceled an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald at the advice of his attorney.
The state Department of Health suspended Earl's medical license Monday on charges of over-prescribing medications to several patients. The state will determine if he can continue practicing medicine, be fined or have his license revoked within the next three months.
Earl initially agreed to an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald through his secretary Rhonda Rodriguez, but she later called and canceled the interview. She said Earl canceled due to advice from his attorney.
Rodriguez indicated Earl might agree to an interview in the future. The Columbia Basin Herald planned to present Earl's side of the story regarding allegations made against him.
Earl declined a second interview request Wednesday through Rodriguez.
The Columbia Basin Herald was attempting to give him an opportunity to address the accusations of the state and three patients who came forward to talk about their experiences with Earl.
Flinders claims misdiagnosis
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake resident Jeff Flinders claims he was misdiagnosed and overmedicated as a patient of Dr. David T. Earl.
Earl's license was suspended Monday by the state on charges that he allegedly over-prescribed medications to several patients.
Flinders is not included in the Washington State Department of Health's statement of charges against Earl.
Earl agreed to an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald through his secretary, but only after he confers with his attorney. An interview date was set for after the Herald's deadline.
Flinders claims he visited Earl three years ago because he was experiencing extreme stomach pain. He said no tests were taken, and instead Earl reportedly handed him a pain-medication prescription.
"My appendix had ruptured, and he sent me home," he said.
Flinders claims his son found him with a 105-degree temperature and took him to the emergency room.
He reportedly was a patient of Earl's prior to that day and was allegedly taking three medications prescribed by him, including Darvocet, OxyContin and Ambien.
Flinders said when he saw Earl for the stomach pain, Earl reportedly gave him a new prescription for Darvocet.
"I wasn't even out," he said.
At the emergency room, a sample was taken of Flinders' blood. He said doctors discovered an elevated white blood cell count. Flinders accused Earl of failing to take a blood sample, which might have led to the discovery of the abnormal white blood cell count earlier.
Approximately five months after undergoing surgery, Flinders said he stopped taking his medications and reportedly went through withdrawals.
"It was a living nightmare clearing my system out from all the pain-killers and drugs that he gave me," Flinders claims.
He said he would see things on walls and it appeared bugs were flying in front of his face.
Flinders reportedly faxed his yearlong history of medications to a medical malpractice attorney in Seattle.
"She said I was grossly overmedicated," Flinders stated.
He claims the attorney said she could not take his case because, by the time it went to court, Flinders would reportedly appear healthy.
Waters enjoyed service
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake resident John Waters described a positive experience under the care of Dr. David T. Earl.
Earl, a Moses Lake physician, faces charges from the state of over-prescribing medications to several patients. His license was suspended Monday by the Washington State Department of Health.
Waters said he and his wife have been seeing Earl for at least ten years.
"You couldn't get along better than I do with Earl, and all doctors make mistakes, and sometimes they're possibly careless, but a lot of the problems could stem from the patients," Waters said.
Waters described his experience with Earl as "first-class."
"I'd say David Earl is a very responsible doctor," Waters noted.
Waters believes it is a patient's responsibility to ask questions regarding their medications, including side effects and whether multiple medications interact with one another.
Waters said when Earl offered him new medications, he made a point to ask about side effects.
"I think it's my responsibility," he said. "You should know what you're putting in your body."
A least once, Waters refused to take a medication or took the medication for a short time and then stopped, he said.
Waters said he hopes Earl can continue practicing medicine.
Fisher blames Earl for death
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake resident Joe Fisher claims Dr. David Earl did not take proper steps in treating his late wife Allie Fisher.
Allie Fisher passed away on May 28, 2006.
Joe Fisher said he filed a complaint of negligence against Earl with the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission three months after his wife died. Fisher said he was allegedly informed the complaint was closed due to lack of evidence.
The state suspended Earl's license Monday, following allegations he over-prescribed medications to several patients.
Earl agreed to an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald through his secretary, but only after he confers with his attorney. An interview date was set for after the Herald's deadline.
Fisher alleges Earl was personable and outgoing, but "sloppy."
Fisher's wife had blood tests done in December 2004 with Earl, allegedly indicating everything was normal.
A blood test was reportedly conducted with Earl again in October 2005, Fisher claims. In the test, two of Allie's liver functions were reportedly out of range - one function was twice the maximum, and the other function was three times the maximum, he said.
Earl allegedly advised Allie to decrease her alcohol consumption if she drank, and he reportedly wrote either "Will visit again," or "Will visit soon," Fisher reported.
In April 2006, Fisher and his wife took a trip to California. He said the trip was cut short when Allie reportedly became ill.
"She was just in pain and swelling," he said.
He claims they made an appointment with Earl, and the new blood tests taken were allegedly even more out of range.
"He called immediately after the blood-test results, sent her to the hospital," Fisher reported.
Fisher believes Earl should have taken a second test, after the first out-of-range test came back in October, to confirm the numbers. If the numbers were still high, Earl should have prescribed immediate treatment, he believes.