Mike Mendenhall, Newton Daily News, Iowa –
The Iowa Board of Medicine has filed formal disciplinary charges against 52-year-old Newton physician Dr. Lafayette J. Twyner alleging that he prescribed “excessive controlled substances to numerous patients, including patients with known drug abuse histories.”
According to a statement issued by the board Thursday afternoon, the governing body has charged Twyner with professional incompetency, inappropriate prescribing and engaging in unethical or unprofessional conduct during his time at the now closed Urgent Care Clinic in Newton.
The disciplinary action was filed Jan. 13, and the board will hold a hearing to address the allegations against Twyner on April 5.
The formal proceedings by the board come eight months after a joint federal and Jasper County search warrant was executed at Twyner’s former clinic, located at 321 E. Third St. N., by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Newton Police Department and the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (MINE) Task Force-East.
According to records at the Iowa Board of Pharmacy in Des Moines, Twyner, who was the supervising physician at Urgent Care, voluntarily surrendered his Iowa Controlled Substance Act Registration to prescribe narcotic medications on April 12, 2011. The board formally accepted his submission at its meeting on April 27. The voluntary suspension was limited to narcotics, and Twyner retained his license to prescribe other types of medications. A follow-up call to the pharmacy board in November showed the physician’s license was still under a period of suspension.
The disciplinary charges brought against Twyner are in regards to his license to practice medicine and will not address any potential criminal charges brought against the Newton doctor. Kevin VanderSchel of the U.S. Department of Justice in Des Moines said Thursday that “there was nothing new our department can add to the public record regarding Mr. Twyner’s case.” There was no indication whether the Urgent Care raid will lead to legal proceedings.
A civil suit filed in Jasper County District Court last month accuses Twyner of contributing to patient Roy E. Long II’s March 2010 death, which was caused by simultaneous consumption of medication and alcohol.
The Newton physician opened the doors to a new independent practice in September on First Avenue East. Multiple calls to Twyner’s office over the last two months regarding his case have not been returned.
