State expands charges for Moses Lake doctor

MOSES LAKE - The list of patients whose care from a Moses Lake osteopathic physician allegedly didn't meet standards of treatment grew to 19 after a statement of charges was amended recently.

Allen Quinn is accused of unprofessional conduct, not meeting the standard of care and not keeping proper records in cases dating from about 1996 to 2010. He also allegedly treated his mother, his wife and himself, which is "not in keeping with the standard of care," according to a press release issued Dec. 21 by the state Department of Health. The initial statement of charges was issued in August 2011; the amended statement was issued Nov. 13, 2012. Quinn has until Jan. 17 to respond, said Janelle Cognasso, program official with the state agency.

No one answered a phone call made to the number listed for Quinn's practice. Quinn and Dr. David Earl work from the same rented space at Pioneer Medical Center but Quinn is not employed by the hospital and has never had practice privileges at the hospital, said Connie Opheikens, the hospital's community relations coordinator.

Quinn allegedly failed to retain medical records for 11 patients when he closed a practice in Yakima. Quinn operated a private practice in Yakima and, after closing that, rented space and opened his office in Moses Lake in July 2003.

"Respondent's (Quinn's) management of chronic pain patients violated the standard of care. The 17 chronic pain patients addressed in these charges represent a pattern of substandard care in respondent's practice in the area of pain management, as well as other areas," according to the statement of charges. "(Quinn's) care of these patients focused on the prescriptions of controlled substances to address complaints of pain, without appropriate attention to the underlying causes of the pain, and without sufficient monitoring and control mechanisms to ensure the controlled substances were taken as prescribed even when possible evidence of diversion or misuse emerged," the statement of charges said.

"(Quinn's) mismanagement of these patients using large dosages and quantities of controlled substances created a substantial risk of harm to patients, and created the potential that diverted medications would be available for illegal use in the community," the statement said.

Quinn also is accused of providing substandard treatment to his wife and mother.

The statement of charges contend that when patients complained of pain Quinn didn't ask questions to determine what might be causing the pain. Nor did he try to find out if the ailments they complained about actually were causing the pain, the statement said.

Quinn allegedly prescribed "very high" doses of narcotics to some patients, but his monitoring of their use was insufficient. The statement alleges Quinn didn't perform toxicology screens or counsel patients on what might happen if they used excessive amounts of the drugs.

He allegedly ignored signs patients were using too much of the prescribed drugs, and did not consider alternative methods of treatment, the statement said. In the case of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, Quinn allegedly "did not consider treating the patient with disease-remitting agents to slow disease progression or offer a rheumatology referral for this purpose," it said.

Another patient was getting and filling prescriptions from more than one doctor. The statement alleges Quinn kept giving the patient prescriptions for the same medications and didn't contact any other doctor providing medications. He also gave early refills to patients, the statement said.

Even in cases where patients were treated for chemical dependency, Quinn allegedly didn't stop giving them medication, according to the statement.

Quinn will have the opportunity to respond to the charges, according to the statement.