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A local doctor sues a telemedicine company for fraud, misrepresentation, and unfair trade practices after several state medical boards sanctioned him for prescribing medications over the telephone.

Dr. Ely David Zaslow, formerly of Hazelwood Family Medicine, claims Secure Telemedicine, a telemedicine company, deceived him by telling him the practice was legal and consistent with state medical board standards. Zaslow claims that as a result of various medical board actions, including being put on probation by the N.C. Medical Board in 2008, his professional reputation has been irreparably harmed and he has incurred significant expenses, according to documents filed in Buncombe County court.

N.C. Medical Board spokeswoman Jean Fisher Brinkley said the board's case against Zaslow was one of the only cases the board has dealt with relating to the practice of telemedicine. While the practice of telemedicine is legal, the N.C. Medical Board placed Zaslow on probation in July 2008 for prescribing medications, including a few prescriptions for controlled substances, without performing a physical examination or any prior physician-patient relationship. He was also reprimanded by the board for splitting fees collected from patients.

Brinkley said the board is seeing more physicians involved in telemedicine, but it is not seeing more disciplinary cases involving the practice. The board is, however, in the process of adopting a new position statement on telemedicine at the request of doctors.

Source : Citizen-Times.com

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