Hearing for doctor accused of patient deaths to continue at later date

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WANE) A hearing before the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana for a pain doctor accused of dangerous prescribing practices that led to the death of some patients under his care ended without resolution on Thursday evening.

Back on December 3, 2012, the Office of the Indiana Attorney General filed a petition to have the license of  Dr. William Hedrick of the Centers for Pain Relief (also called Inquest Health Systems) suspended. 

On December 6, Hedrick agreed to have his license temporarily suspended when he appeared before the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana which will determine what sort of discipline the doctor might face.  On January 24, 2013 the board rejected a proposal by Dr. Hedrick to give up his license to practice medicine for two years and voluntarily be on probation for four subsequent years; this offer was rejected by the board and scheduled another hearing for February 28.

To start Thursday's hearing, the state called several people to speak at the Dr. Hedrick's hearing.

A pain specialist doctor from northwest Indiana testified about chronic opioid therapy, proper use of opioids, alternatives and how addictive the drugs can be. The doctor also looked at the medical histories, diagnoses, risk factors and treatment plans of seven patients that had been under the care of Dr. Hedrick.

The doctor claimed that all seven patients were not good candidates for opioid therapy due to psychiatric diseases, depression, alcoholism and/or suicidal tendencies.

For example, the doctor claimed the first patient, called Patient A for anonymity, was an inappropriate candidate for opioid use as there was a history of heroin use, psychiatric disease, suicidal tendencies, chronic alcohol abuse, and the patient had seen multiple docs in the past seeking pain meds.

The hearing ended on Thursday evening. The board said they would continue proceedings at a later to-be-determined date.

Indiana Attorney General's complaint against Dr. Hedrick

Dr. Hedrick has been accused of dangerous pain therapies and drug mixing practicing. A complaint filed by the state in December 2012 claims numerous patients under the care of Dr. Hedrick and the Centers for Pain Relief  "have died from multiple drug toxicity."

Read the entire complaint against Dr. Hedrick

Dr. Hedrick has also been accused of engaging in procedures that are "inconsistent with patient benefit, but consistent with financial gain for [Dr. Hedrick]."

Centers for Pain Relief

According to its web site, the Centers for Pain Relief operates out of 14 locations in northeast Indiana and was founded by Dr. Hedrick in 2002. The bio of Dr. Hedrick on the web site indicated he served as Medical Director in the Lutheran Health Network from 2000-2009 and then served as Medical Director for InQuest Health.