By Lydia Nuzum
Staff writer
A Martinsburg doctor accused of illegal drug activity had her license revoked by West Virginia Board of Medicine earlier this week.
Dr. Tressie Montene Duffy, who operated West Virginia Weight and Wellness Inc. in Martinsburg, was convicted on federal drug distribution charges in December, pleading guilty to seven counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of oxycodone, a highly addictive Schedule II drug used to treat pain.
Duffy signed blank prescription orders and allowed unlicensed members of her staff to issue prescriptions for narcotics to patients despite the fact that they weren't seen by a physician, U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld said in December.
As a result of pleading guilty, Duffy faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million on each of the seven counts. Duffy agreed, as part of the plea agreement, to relinquish her medical license and to never reapply for a medical license or certificate in West Virginia or any other state. The board took official action to revoke Duffy's license during its bi-monthly meeting Monday.
The board did not take action on another doctor accused of misconduct, however.
Charleston neurologist Dr. Iraj Derakhshan underwent weeks of scrutiny by the board late last year after an investigation found he wrote more than 14,000 original or refill prescriptions for controlled substances from July 1, 2013 to Feb. 12, 2014. The state also examined the records of 10 of Derakhshan's patients and found the doctor had significantly escalated each patient's dosage over time.
Board of Medicine executive director Robert Knittle said Derakhshan wasn't on the board's January agenda because the board is still awaiting the findings and recommendations from the hearing examiner.
"There's really nothing to report at this point," Knittle said. "The hearing is concluded, and the attorneys on either side have submitted their briefs to the hearing examiner, and now he will review everything and present his findings and recommendations to the board ... the board will review it with separate counsel and make a final determination."
Knittle said there was no timeline for when Derakhshan's final determination will be made, but said it will be "timely."