Dr. Morris Patteson Jr. A Lampasas physician was among 88 doctors disciplined by the Texas Medical Board at its Aug. 23-24 meeting.

Morris K. Patteson Jr., M.D., entered into a 10-year Agreed Order with the board, which requires the local medical doctor to abstain from consuming prohibited substances, including alcohol and drugs not prescribed for him.

In an Aug. 30 news release, the board said Patteson must:

• participate in the board's program for testing for drugs and alcohol.

• undergo an independent psychiatric evaluation.

• continue to receive care from his current psychiatrist at least once per month for the first year of treatment.

• participate in the activities of Alcoholics Anonymous at least five times per week.

• continue to participate in the Texas Medical Association random drug screening program.

• maintain a log for every prescription written for controlled substances or dangerous drugs with addictive potential or potential for abuse.

• limit his practice to no more than 50 hours per week in a group setting.

"The action was based on Dr. Patteson's testing positive for Butalbital and EtG after submitting to a random drug screening," the news release issued by the board states.

Butalbital is a barbiturate used as a sedative, while EtG is a metabolite of alcohol, which indicates alcohol is in the body, Texas Medical Board officials said.

Patteson, 58, received his medical license in 1974 and returned to his hometown three years later to join the staff of Rollins-Brook Hospital and Clinic.

He graduated from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and for three years served his residency at Memorial Medical Center in Corpus Christi, specializing in family practice.

Ruben R. Cardenas, administrator at Family Medicine Clinic where Patteson has long maintained a practice, said Patteson initiated correspondence to healthcare providers about matters per- taining to the Texas Medical Board.

In a July 31 letter, Patteson notified medical facilities and directors about the results of an "Informal Compliance Proceeding and Settlement Conference" with the Texas Medical Board on April 18.

Patteson states, in the letter, that the medical board acknowledged he is primarily engaged in family practice and board certified in the specialty by the American Board of Family Practice, a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

The state medical board also recognized that the Lampasas physician "has never previously been the subject of disciplinary action by the board" and acknowledges "this is an isolated, single event."

Furthermore, Patteson writes, the board acknowledges that he has given "full voluntary and professional cooperation" to comply with all "Agreed Order Conclusions."

"In addition, I wish to emphasize that I have practiced as a family physician at my current office for over 30 years without incident, and continue to receive full support from my fellow practice partners," the local medical doctor states.

"Therefore, I respectfully request your professional support and consideration to continue my professional and business relationship as an official `Participating and Credentialed Provider' with your organization."

Family Medicine Clinic maintains two offices: at West Avenue E in Lampasas and at Town Square in Copperas Cove.

A 14-page Agreed Order signed June 11 by Patteson notes that the Lampasas medical practitioner "denies that he used alcohol, and contested the EtG test results."

In addition, the document states, Patteson "explained the circumstances of the positive test and acknowledged the error in judgment. The Butalbital was an isolated, single event."

The family practice physician "has all negative tests since the tests at issue," the medical board found. "He has been evaluated by an addictionologist who found him to be in full recovery."

The document also states the local doctor "is currently maintaining his sobriety."

The medical board ordered, however, that Patteson must abstain from the consumption of prohibited substances, except as prescribed by another physician to Patteson "for legitimate and documented therapeutic purposes."

Prohibited substances, the board said, include alcohol in any form; dangerous drugs and controlled substances, as defined in the Texas Health & Safety Code; and any substance, in any form, including over-thecounter agents and food products that may cause a positive drug or alcohol test.

A list of prohibited substances, according to the board, includes:

• stimulants • appetite suppressants • medication for ADD/ADHD • anti-anxiety agents • antidepressants • antihistamines • antispasmodics

• recreational, mind-altering drugs

• any product that contains pseudoephedrine or epinephrine

• alcohol

• any product that contains alcohol, including mouthwashes, cough medicines, after-shave lotions, colognes, hand-sanitizing formulas, and dietary and herbal supplements.

Under terms of the order, Patteson is not to treat or serve as a physician for his immediate family. In addition, he is prohibited from prescribing or dispensing "controlled substances or dangerous drugs with addictive potential or potential for abuse" to himself or his immediate family.

He is permitted to supervise and delegate prescriptive authority to physician assistants and advanced practice nurses and to supervise surgical assistants, though.

Conditions of the order will continue in force without the opportunity for amendment for 12 months after the entry of the order. After the 12 months are over, Patteson may petition the board to amend or terminate the conditions, officials said.

The order supersedes a Confidential Nonpublic Agreed Rehabilitation Order dated April 8, 2005, that involves Patteson. Because the Lampasas physician violated terms of the 2005 order, it became a public document "for the purpose of disciplinary proceedings."

Texas Medical Board records show that on Jan. 26, 2005, Patteson met with board staff and representatives of the board.

It was found that Patteson voluntarily admitted himself to La Hacienda Treatment Center in Hunt, Texas, on April 13, 2004, for treatment of opioid dependence. He completed his program at the center and was discharged May 12, 2004.

The Lampasas physician "self-reported this addiction to prescription drugs to the board on April 29, 2004," records show.

Patteson began abusing Hydrocodone, a painkiller, after extensive dental work in 1999, according to the document.

After he finished his prescription, the medical practitioner began using Lortab 10, records show. "He acquired the drug from a prescriptive drug representative," the 2005 rehabilitation order states.

"[Patteson] acquired drugs from the drug closet in his office, from prescriptive drug companies by mail and during the later stages of his addiction he used the names of family members to obtain prescriptions.

"At the height of his addiction, [he] was taking 40, sometimes as many as 50 10 mg Hydrocodone tablets per day."

The document states that the local physician enrolled in the Texas Medical Association drug screening program in late May 2004. He signed a five-year agreement with the Bell County Medical Society Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation.

He was selected to test 41 times and submitted 37 specimens, records show.

Patteson told the medical panel that three of the missed tests were in June 2004. When he returned to work after a long absence, one medical partner took a two-week vacation and another partner went on pregnancy leave.

"Consequently, he was the only physician in town for most of the month of June," according to the document. "The trip to the testing site, testing and his return all required about three hours time. Because he was the only doctor in town, he could not afford three hours away from the practice. He stated he no longer works such demanding hours."

On June 9, 2004, the local doctor tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide, records state.

The document states that Patteson's "intemperate use of drugs was a direct result of a habituation or addiction caused by medical care or treatment provided by a physician."

Records also note that the local medical practitioner "self-reported the intemperate use of drugs or alcohol that could adversely affect the ability to practice medicine safely" and that Patteson cooperated in an investigation of the allegations related to the Agreed Order.

At the time of the 2005 order, Patteson was ordered to participate in AA not less than three times a week. He also was ordered not to work more than 50 hours per workweek and not to have access to controlled substances in his office.