Pain management physician permanently barred from practicing
TRENTON, N.J. — A Gloucester County pain management physician convicted in federal court of unlawfully distributing controlled substances has permanently lost his New Jersey medical license, state officials announced.
The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners permanently revoked the medical license of Dr. Larry Pettis, who operated a pain management practice in Williamstown.
According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the Division of Consumer Affairs, Pettis has not practiced medicine in New Jersey since January, when he voluntarily surrendered his license under an interim consent order while federal criminal charges were pending.
Pettis later pleaded guilty to unlawfully distributing a controlled substance and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
State officials said the permanent revocation resolves allegations that Pettis engaged in professional misconduct and committed a crime directly related to his responsibilities as a physician.
In addition to revoking his medical license, the Division’s Drug Control Unit permanently revoked Pettis’ authority to prescribe controlled dangerous substances in New Jersey.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators alleged Pettis pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances so another individual could issue them while he was away from the office. Authorities also alleged he prescribed opioids and other controlled substances without first evaluating patients and altered or fabricated medical records related to those prescriptions.
Under the final consent order, Pettis must immediately cease all patient contact in New Jersey, may not prescribe medications or provide medical care, and is prohibited from managing, supervising or influencing the practice of medicine in the state. He is also barred from financially benefiting from the practice of medicine in New Jersey.
The state filed the final consent order on July 29.
Key Points
- New Jersey permanently revoked the medical license of a Gloucester County pain management physician.
- The doctor pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawfully distributing a controlled substance.
- State officials also permanently revoked his authority to prescribe controlled dangerous substances.
