Closure
Sat, March 28, 2009 at 11:27AM 
I am forced out of Journal Posting retirement today. . .
I made an entry a few weeks ago and clicked save and it was lost into that black hole of no return. I took this as a sign to take a break, which I did. Alternative outlets to writing had become chopping down trees and digging holes. Since I do it just for fun maybe writing isn't so bad after all. At least it doesn't cause tendonitis and back pain. The real reason for today's post is to hopefully provide equal time for myself. I spoke with the local newspaper yesterday and was informed that they would again be publicizing my situation with the Board today. Since I know that rumors will again be widespread, I want there to be at least one place where people can find the truth from the horses mouth.
I met with the Board on March 20th for formal sentencing and to put some closure to my four year ordeal for choosing to prescribe pain medications without following all of their criteria for every patient. They really had very little to make any case to be taken seriously until the media became involved last June and they were able to get someone to come forward against me. They then blocked my DEA number to prescribe bupenorphrine and accused me of prescribing it without a license. I began to realize that the deck was stacked and it was time to cut my losses and do whatever they wanted. I was fortunate enough to have an attorney who understands the Board because of once working for them. I received some personal validation from learning of this attorney's views about their loss of focus and mission and the way they do business. The doctor receiving his consent order before me pitched a fit and raised a little hell but it didn't make one bit of difference. It probably just made them angry. I was humbled by the experience. I told them I valued my license, I found myself in a difficult situation for a while, and if I knew then what I knew now I would not be before them today.
The way it stands now my practice of psychiatry will not be affected at all. I will have six weeks active suspension of my license during the months of May and June. Personally, that isn't a bad thing because I haven't had a real vacation in many years. I made a plea about not likely being able to find coverage for the time I'm out. That plea fell on deaf ears. If the ER or Mental Health Center have a problem with this I guess they should take it up with them. My hands are tied.
Most of all, I don't want my patients put into another panic like last summer and think that I am going out of business or going to prison for some crime. In my opinion, this is mostly political. I detest the role I have been cast into but there is nothing I can do about it but play along. I am not completely innocent here but the situation has been blown out of proportion and attention has been distracted from what the true problems are. On a much more grand scale this type of thing happened when the establishment went after President Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal. In the mean time, matters leading up to 9/11 were ignored or placed on the back burner. I see several new patients a week who are abusing opioids that they did not get from me. I haven't written a prescription in over six months for an opioid. The action taken against me has not made one bit of difference with that problem other than making other physicians more certain to avoid prescribing opioids at all. Perhaps heroin will make a come back. I don't have any answers but I feel like I understand the magnitude of the drug abuse problem better than any bureaucrat in Raleigh. I tried to do my part. I was unsuccessful. I am through with it.
Dr. Alex Deluca, Pain Relief Network
psychiatry
Reader Comments (6)
When I 1st heard of this whole ordeal I have to admit that it all freaked me out a bit, mainly since my son & I had just started to see the doc. Then I remembered 1996 and the Alamance County Department of Mental Health AND Dr Headen...in a sense he saved me from a disease I would have never known that I had and a constant battle would go on inside my head...I was finally diagnosed as being Bi Polar, by Dr. Headen. His bed side manner and compassion to treat me, as well as others, was that of a man who truly gave a damn about the Mental Health system and all that it entails. Our government has chipped away at funds to provide treatment in so many areas, I feel as though Dr Headen has always done what was in the best interest of his patients, whether it be the guy who needs to detox or the lady that can never seem to find herself 'painless', f for pain comes in many forms.
I was very happy when I found Dr Headen again and especially to once again be treated by him as well as introducing my to him who is Autistic and needs meds for his own 'issues'. I will continue to proudly say that Dr. Headen is once again my 'shrink' (if you will). He was, and still is, always the type of doctor that listen's to his patient's and does what's in their best interest, and treat them within his scope of practice, and, like I've said before, does what's in their best interest to accommodate them and their own 'issues'. He has never over prescribed meds for me or my son, never offered to prescribe meds that I did not need, nor has he ever STOPPED listening to me and my ups and downs and help through my dark times.
I want to say thank you to Dr Headen, and let EVERYONE know that the media has truly made more out of this matter than it truly is. He is a man who deserves praise for trying to help the one's who financially probably couldn't care for themselves without his aid. He is a man of quiet demeanor and has intentions of nothing but goodness. I hope his other clients read this and support Dr Headen for it is now that we should and can be supportive of him
Thank you-Kristen
Thank you Dr Headen for ALL that you have done for myself and my son.
I wish that all doctors had the integrity that Dr. Headen possesses. I don't understand the reasoning behind this suspension. When I am unable to obtain the relief I need for chronic pain but I see neighborhoods that have become the hotbeads for illegal drugs, well.... I just don't get it. Dr. Headen, please don't give up - we need you!
Following is my comment to the Times:
The NC Medical Board does nothing to help the chronic pain patient or treating doctor and they, along with the DEA I'm sure, have doctors to the point that they will not even acknowledge the human suffering that is prevelant in the state of North Carolina. This came to my attention when I tried to find a doctor in this state that would treat severe OA and cervical spondylosis to an acceptable standard that would help me to live a normal, productive life as a tax-paying citizen. The few good doctors are overloaded with patients and the so-called pain centers are nothing more than opiophobic; willing to subject the patient to unnecessary and costly procedures and tests. I know... I've lived it for 13 years and frankly, am suprised I'm still alive.
To sanction doctors for poor record keeping is absurd! And only five patients that slipped through the cracks? What was the patient load of this good doctor? Why aren't all doctors held to these standards by the NC medical board? This is nothing more than another move in the failed war on drugs to prevent opiate prescriptions.
I wish there were more doctors that had the integrity that this doctor has. I support him 100%.
I am disgusted with NC and not just the medical profession. The politicians in this state, including the Medical Board, set the good doctors and their patients up for failure. Enough!
Thanks for the inspiring comments and the much needed support. I am so glad when others are able to understand the truth and articulate so well. Silence can be the greatest form of betrayal. I hope others will follow Ms Beal's wonderful example.
I don't know Dr Headen personally, someone who I knew was a patient of his. I am not sure just what this person was being treated for. I also don't know any facts of why his license was suspended. I do have some questions of things I've found to be disturbing however. There is a prescription for hydrocodone, 10/650 1 to 2 every 4 to 6 hrs as needed for pain. If all 12 of these were taken per day that is a lethal dose of tylenol. Certainly taking a risk of permanent liver damage later down the road. I don't know how this prescription came about , who wrote it, I also found it hard to beleive a drug store would fill this. I just want to add to this post and this site for anyone who is on pain meds to be aware of the dangers of tylenol. It can and does kill. It can cause live failure and live damage. Thing about most pain meds is this, the more you take the less they work over time. Opiod is additive and tylenol is harmfull. I feel for people with chronic pain. I hope this gets to people out there who may abuse their meds. It may save a life.
I've noticed on behalf of many of my adversaries the introduction of subliminal messages when the opportunity presents. Majority of my patients who were able to develop the proper doctor-patient alliance have received above average care and have been safely treated. I feel good about the care provided to these good people. Along the way I have encountered substance abusers with characterolgical disorders in disguise. Such parties have led to development of the current predicament. It's bad that such parties are able to manipulate and influence organizations such as the Medical Board and personal injury lawyers. Some people have trouble understanding the concept of a witch hunt or modern day lynching. I believe the truth always comes out in the end. I don't fully understand the hate but I understand the motivation.
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