Misconduct charges include accepting kidney from patient

The New York State Health Department has revoked the license of an Elmira psychiatrist who has admitted charges of misconduct including accepting a kidney from a patient.

Dr. Carlos Delos-Reyes received his license to practice medicine in New York in March 1987. His license will be permanently restricted, effective June 21, and he will be prohibited from practicing in New York State.

According to a statement of charges issued by the state Board for Professional Medical Conduct, Delos-Reyes provided psychiatric care to patients at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elmira, Family Services of Chemung County Mental Health Clinic or at the patients’ homes.

The misconduct charges filed against him include gross negligence, moral unfitness, willfully making a false report and failure to maintain adequate records for each patient.

» Between January 2010 and October 2010, Delos-Reyes failed to document a patient’s psychiatric, drug and alcohol use histories, and didn’t notice the patient’s adverse reaction to lithium, a mood stabilizing drug that Delos-Reyes prescribed without first evaluating the patient’s baseline kidney and thyroid function. Delos-Reyes was also charged with prescribing Xanax, used to treat anxiety attacks, without documenting the prescription. He also transcribed a prescription for Wellbutrin, an antidepressant, in the patient’s medical records but didn’t actually prescribe the medication.

» Between December 2008 and October 2009, Delos-Reyes failed to coordinate his treatment of a patient with her therapist, did not appropriately follow up on the patient’s levels of Valproic acid, a mood stabilizer used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, and did not refer the patient for metabolic lab studies.

» Between November 2005 and April 2009, Delos-Reyes accepted a kidney from a patient while serving as the patient’s psychiatrist. He also prescribed several medications for the patient without adequate medical justification, failed to document the prescriptions, and, in one instance, allowed the patient to write his own prescription. He was also charged with keeping inadequate medical records for the patient.

» From August 2005 to April 2008, Delos-Reyes failed to consult a patient’s primary care physician before treating the patient for hypersomnia, a disorder characterized by excessive amounts of sleepiness, failing to maintain an appropriate medication list for the patient and allowing the patient to complete the physician’s section of his behavioral health intake evaluation.

» From January 2004 to February 2009, Delos-Reyes did not perform an adequate psychiatric evaluation of a patient and failed to refer the patient for lab work to monitor his blood glucose and triglyceride levels.

URL:  http://www.stargazette.com/article/20110616/NEWS01/106160393/Elmira-psychiatrist-lose-license

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