Colusa doctor could lose license over pain medication misuse

A Colusa physician is facing serious allegations by the state Medical Board that could result in his license being revoked.

The state agency charges that in August 2009, Dr. Gregory W. Burt prescribed Demerol for patients at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, but intended to use the pain killer for himself, according to documents filed Jan. 11 from the Medical Board of California .

The matter is being handled by the state Attorney General's Office.

Burt could not be reached for comment. A message was left for him at his Colusa office.

Although on the medical staff at Colusa Regional Medical Center, the hospital is not involved in the matter, and Burt is not an employee of the hospital.

Medical center chief executive officer Dale Kirby said Burt had disclosed the investigation to the hospital's medical staff when he was being vetted about 18 months ago to help fill the void left by the departure the U.C. Davis medical group.

Kirby said Burt has been a very good addition to the staff and has built a solid practice.

"He is on our medical staff and has done a terrific job here, and is very popular in town," Kirby said. "He notified the medical staff before he applied here and the medical staff looked over that (information) and felt it was not pertinent to his practice in Colusa."

There are three causes of discipline in the allegation, which, if Burt were to be found guilty, could result in probation or losing his license.

The state Medical Board charges that on Aug. 26, 2009, Burt "signed out two vials of meperidine from a medical cart ... (and) informed staff that he intended to administer the medication to a patient at the facility."

The common name for meperidine is Demerol, which is used as a pain reliever.

The allegation also claims Burt asked a registered nurse to sign his name to the vials and that he would administer the medication.

The "normal procedure was that whoever signs out the medication is the one who administers the medication," the Medical Board allegation states.

A review of the records for the patient who was to receive the medication, according to the state, showed no indication the shot had been given. The patient also reportedly said he had not been given an injection.

According to the state allegation, Burt was contacted by the chief deputy of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Dr. Joseph Bick, and Burt reportedly told him that he did administer the Demerol to the patient.

The next day, about 1:30 a.m., according to the documents, Burt sent an e-mail to Bick indicating his "intention to resign."

A later e-mail, according to the documents, reportedly indicated that Burt admitted he actually intended to "self-administer" the Demerol.