Fallston Doctor Has Medical License Suspended

Rakesh K. Mathur, a doctor at Intractable Pain Clinic in Fallston, has had his medical license suspended in part due to large orders for oxycodone, according to a state board that oversees health care licensure, and published reports.

Mathur's medical license was suspended Feb. 7 and his practice closed days later, according to documents from the Maryland Board of Physicians and a story on Explore Harford.

The board made the decision after "concluding that the public health, safety or welfare imperatively requires emergency action," documents from the board state.

The investigation into Mathur included a July 2010 complaint from the Drug Enforcement Administration that Mathur made large orders of oxycodone from a provider and the amount was "suspicious," according to the board documents.

Mathur told the board the "suspicious" order was the first made with that provider and different companies have different "permissible thresholds," according to the documents.

In December 2010, the board received another complaint from an investigator with a national health care plan who said Mathur allegedly prescribed, "unusually high amounts of narcotics for the majority of his patients," the board documents state.

According to the same documents, a patient told the board she felt pressured to get her prescriptions filled at the in-office dispensary.

Among the allegations against Mathur are that he prescribes multiple long-acting prescription drugs "indiscriminately and typically without documented medical necessity," documents state.

The Maryland Board of Physicians subpoenaed 15 patients' records, and after a peer review, concluded in 10 out of 15 cases Mathur allegedly failed to meet standard of quality care and in all 15 cases did not maintain adequate medical records.

Mathur told the investigator conducting an on-site review that he has, "a 'different' philosophy of pain management and is ostracized by his peers as a result," documents state. He said he does not recommend invasive procedures and saves insurance companies and patients money.

Mathur added he believed a woman he had discharged as a patient may have a grudge against him and had, "spread rumors that he was causing patients to become addicted to narcotics," according to the board documents.