TALLAHASSEE-The Florida Department of Health (DOH) filed an Emergency Suspension Order (ESO) on December 20, 2010 against Debra Kay Roggow, D.O., of Fort Myers, Florida.  The order suspends Dr. Roggow's license to practice as an osteopathic physician in the State of Florida.

The ESO arises out of Dr. Roggow's treatment of eight patients.  The ESO alleges that Dr. Roggow prescribed these patients oxycodone, hydromorphone and morphine, in inappropriate and excessive quantities without documenting medical necessity for the types and quantities of drugs prescribed.  According to the ESO, Dr. Roggow prescribed the eight patients a total of about 563,043 tablets, 12,326 lozenges, 95 patches and 30 boxes of controlled substances.   The ESO highlighted the care Dr. Roggow provided to one patient in particular where she continued to prescribe high doses of OxyContin to the patient despite a hospital admission for a suspected drug overdose and respiratory distress.  The ESO further alleges that Dr. Roggow's actions constitute a violation of Rule 64B15-14.005(3), Florida Administrative Code, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine's rule regulating the prescribing of controlled substances.  These actions constitute violations of Sections 459.015(1)(o), (t), (x), and (pp) of the Florida Statutes (2005)-(2009).

Dr. Roggow has the right to file a petition for review of the ESO within 30 days.  Within 20 days of the filing of the ESO, DOH will initiate disciplinary action for the allegations stated in the ESO.  If probable cause is found by a panel made up of one current member of the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and one former member of the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Roggow will have the right to elect a formal hearing presided over by an Administrative Law Judge to dispute the allegations.  Dr. Roggow can alternatively request a hearing in front of the full Board of Osteopathic Medicine if she does not dispute the allegations, or she may choose not to dispute the allegations and waive her right to be heard concerning this matter.
If probable cause is found and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine finds that Roggow has committed the violations stated in the ESO, the disciplinary actions can range from probation to revocation, and may include a minimum fine of $5,000 for each offense.

The mission of DOH and MQA is to promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida.  Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 healthcare professions. MQA evaluates the credentials of all applicants for licensure, issues licenses, analyzes and investigates complaints, inspects facilities, assists in prosecuting practice act violations, combats unlicensed activity and provides credential and discipline history about licensees to the public. Visit http://www.flhealthsource.com for additional information about MQA.

Dr. Roggow denied wrong-doing in an interview with WINK News senior reporter Mike Walcher.

"I am not a pill mill.  These patients have developed a very high tolerance to medication, so I had to prescribe a lot of small-dose pills.   I will fight to get my license back," she said.