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A Rensselaer physician’s medical license has been revoked by the Indiana Medical Licensing Board over allegations that he facilitated an unlawful abortion, engaged in sexual contact with patients and improperly prescribed controlled substances.
Dr. Patrick Sheets’ license was revoked last week following an eight-hour hearing in which the board considered claims that he facilitated the abortion for a patient with whom he had an alleged sexual relationship.
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office, which investigated the administrative case, also alleged that Sheets continued prescribing controlled substances to the same patient despite her reported history of addiction.
“Vulnerable patients should not be preyed upon when seeking health care services, and the provider is expected to act in the patient’s best interests,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a written statement issued Wednesday.
Rachel Russell, Sheets’ attorney, could not immediately be reach for comment on Wednesday.
According to the Journal & Courier of Lafayette, she told the licensing board during last week’s hearing that the attorney general’s allegations against Sheets rested on assumptions and uncorroborated statements rather than a full and fair evaluation of medical context and “real-world practice conditions.”
Rokita’s office reported receiving several other complaints against Sheets alleging dangerous prescribing practices, including prescribing controlled substances such as alprazolam to a patient with known substance abuse issues without proper evaluations.
One complaint came from a family member who said Sheets continued to prescribe addictive medications to their mother despite being informed of her addiction and alcoholism, allegedly contributing to the woman’s arrests and repeated rehabilitation stays.
Another complainant, described as a former patient, alleged being coerced into illegal activities to maintain access to medications and claimed that Sheets engaged in inappropriate relationships with patients and staff while prescribing controlled substances.
Rokita credited deputy attorneys general Ryan Eldridge, Kelsey McKnight, Carah Rochester, and investigator Cassie McDaniel for their work on the case, saying their efforts helped protect future patients.
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