The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today announced the suspension of an Orlando registered nurse, along with revocation of licenses for twelve other practitioners across Florida. Two medical doctors, one from Casselbery and the other from Miami, are among those suspended.
Anthony Leonard Gage, of Orlando, was suspended for failing to submit to required drug tests, attend facilitated nurse support group meetings and being unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety because of alcohol dependence and major depression, a statement from DOH said.
The other practitioners suspended over the past week-end are:
Jose Carlos Menendez a/k/a Jose Carlos Menendez Campos, Medical Doctor, Casselberry. Menendez violated Florida Statutes by entering a plea of guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to traffic in Oxycodone (28 grams or more).
Ramiro J. Abaunza, Medical Doctor, Miami. Abaunza violated Florida Statutes by failing to meet the prevailing standard of care by prescribing inappropriate or excessive quantities of controlled substances to patients, prescribing two immediate-release opioids medications to patients, failing to refer patients to receive consultations with other medical specialists, failing to employ alternative modalities for treatment regarding patients and failing to properly monitor patients, among others.
Luke Hanson, Registered Nurse, Riverview. Hanson violated Florida Statutes by being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, or chemicals or any other type of material or as a result of any mental or physical condition.
Tiffaney Richardson, Certified Nursing Assistant, Avon Park. Richardson violated Florida Statutes by engaging in unprofessional conduct by testing positive for drugs under Chapter 893 on her drug screen when she did not have a prescription and legitimate medical reason for using such drug.
Dara E. Croft, Certified Nursing Assistant, Live Oak. Croft violated Florida Statutes by entering a plea of nolo contendere on two counts of passing a worthless check under $150.00, a first degree misdemeanor; plea of guilty in 2009 to one count of petit theft, a second degree misdemeanor and one count of resisting a merchant, a first degree misdemeanor; plea of guilty in 2011 to one count of petit theft (second offense) and plea of guilty in 2011 to two counts of possession of a controlled substance, a third degree felony.
Charity Ann Price, Certified Nursing Assistant, Silver Springs. Price violated Florida Statutes by entering a plea of guilty to one count of fraudulent use of personal identification information, a third degree felony and entering a plea of nolo contendere to one count of smuggling contraband into a detention facility, a third degree felony.
Tracy J. Sweat, Certified Nursing Assistant, East Palatka. Sweat violated Florida Statutes by entering a plea of nolo contendere to one count of possession of cocaine, a third degree felony.
Nina Lee Tomlin, Registered Nurse, Port Charlotte. Tomlin violated Florida Statutes by failing to enter into and complete the inpatient chemical dependency treatment program recommended in two IPN-facilitated evaluations and being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of alcohol dependence.
Steven N. Laslett, Certified Nursing Assistant, Port S. Lucie. Laslett violated Florida Statutes by entering a plea of nolo contendere to three felony counts of sale or delivery of oxycodone; one felony count of possession of cocaine and one felony count of sale and delivery of cocaine.
Melissa Beth Cooper, Licensed Practical Nurse, Vero Beach. Cooper violated Florida Statutes by being unable to practice nursing with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, or chemicals or any other type of material or as a result of a mental or physical condition.
Lourdes Eloi St. Cloud, Licensed Practical Nurse, Coral Springs. St. Cloud violated Florida Statutes by entering a plea of nolo contendere to one third degree felony count of scheme to defraud.
Kitty Morlock, Licensed Practical Nurse, Deland. Morlock violated Florida Statutes by engaging in unprofessional conduct by testing positive for cocaine, a drug under Chapter 893, for which she did not have a prescription and legitimate medical reason for using such drug.
