Officials from the State Medical Board, Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini, and members of his staff gathered outside Tri-State Primary Care on Ohio River Road in Wheelersburg on Thursday afternoon, shortly after the State Medical Board suspended the medical license of Douglas B. Karel, a physician from Lima, Ohio.

The State Medical Board said Karel’s medical license was summarily suspended, “after determining that there is clear and convincing evidence that Dr. Karel violated the Medical Practice Act and his continued practice presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public. The suspension is effective immediately.”

According to the Board, Karel has worked at three pain clinics in Scioto County since 2007, and during the course of its investigation, Karel’s practice was described as a “pill mill,” basing that description on the following criteria: “The clinics did not accept insurance and worked on a cash-only basis, generally charging $200 per visit, with virtually all patients receiving prescriptions for controlled substances. Some of the patients receiving prescriptions had prior arrests and/or convictions, including for aggravated possession of Oxycontin.”

The State Medical Board said about 40-45 percent of Karel’s patients came from out-of-state, primarily with complaints of lower back and neck pain.

“Dr. Karel did not offer treatment modalities such as trigger point injections and only prescribed narcotics for the patients,” the State Medical Board said. “He also prescribed controlled substances and/or drugs of abuse for four of his employees, including a security guard, who was convicted of felony aggravated trafficking in drugs in 2005.”

The Board said their summary suspension was based on Karel’s alleged selling, giving away, personally furnishing, prescribing or administering drugs for other than legal and legitimate therapeutic purposes; alleged failure to maintain minimal standards applicable to the selection or administration of drugs, or to employ acceptable scientific methods in the selection of drugs for treatment of disease; and commission of an act that constitutes a felony in Ohio, specifically tampering with evidence.

Karel has the right to request a hearing regarding the suspension of his license. His medical license will remain suspended under the Summary Suspension Order until the Medical Board issues a final disciplinary order.