By Pat Anson, PNN Editor A northern California doctor who is beloved by many of her patients could lose her medical license because of alle
A northern California doctor who is beloved by many of her patients could lose her medical license because of allegations by the state medical board that she overprescribed opioid medication and other drugs. Dr. Corrine (Connie) Basch runs a solo primary care practice in Arcata, a small city in rural Humboldt county.
“They were looking to put a head on a spike so they could claim they were doing something about the opioid crisis,” Basch told PNN. “I am not considered a negligent doctor in town, nor am I a pill mill. And it would have taken them all of ten minutes to figure that out if they had asked anyone in my community if there was a problem here.”
A formal complaint against Basch by the Medical Board of California, first reported by the Lost Coast Outpost, centers on her treatment of five pain patients on relatively high doses of opioids and benzodiazepines, an anti-anxiety medication. Although Basch had tapered them to lower doses, the complaint alleges the amounts are still excessive and the combination of drugs places the patients at risk of overdose and death.
Board Executive Director Kimberly Kirchmeyer is seeking the revocation or suspension of Basch’s license for excessive prescribing, gross negligence and failure to maintain adequate medical records.
At no point in the 25-page complaint is it alleged that any of Basch’s patients have overdosed or been harmed while under her care. The board began its investigation of Basch in early 2018 but didn’t file the accusation until last month – suggesting it didn’t think there was any imminent threat to her patients. (Read more at link)
