Minnesota Medical Board disciplines four doctors

Minnesota Medical Board disciplines four doctors
Punishments ranged from fees, retraining and limits on their practices
to one physician's surrender of his license.

By MAURA LERNER, Star Tribune

Last update: May 13, 2009 - 9:54 PM



Four Minnesota physicians were disciplined by the Board of Medical
Practice this month for unprofessional or unethical conduct, including
a doctor who serves as the Itasca county coroner.

Dr. Michael Baich of Coleraine was disciplined for prescribing
excessive quantities of narcotics to patients after he was warned that
they were abusing drugs, the board reported Wednesday. The board found
that Baich, 64, failed to "recognize drug-seeking behavior in his
patients," and that he failed to properly document or monitor their
use of narcotics.

Baich acknowledged inadequacies in his prescribing and record-keeping
practices, the board said. He was ordered to pay $5,379 in fines and
to complete courses in chemical dependency awareness, chronic pain
management and professional ethics.

Baich, who has been Itasca county coroner since 1995, could not be
reached for comment Wednesday.

In addition:

•Dr. James Harvanko of Richfield voluntarily gave up his license to
practice medicine this month, after admitting to the Medical Board
that he had a sexual relationship with a patient. Harvanko, 46, had
been disciplined in 2002, when he admitted to having sex with three
patients and working under the influence of amphetamines. At the time,
his license was temporarily suspended by the board, and reinstated a
year later.

•Dr. Cory Rossow of Morgan was barred from treating patients younger
than 18. Three years ago, the board temporarily suspended his license
after he was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a juvenile. The
board reinstated his license in February, after the criminal case was
settled without prosecution. Rossow, now 45, will be allowed to
practice only in group settings approved by the Medical Board. He also
was ordered to undergo psychotherapy and complete a course in
professional ethics, according to the board.
.

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