The State Board of Medical Examiners has temporarily suspended the medical license of Dr. Eric Thomas, effective December 4, 2015, after finding that he indiscriminately prescribed powerful prescription pain killers to patients, and did not take appropriate action when patients apparently could have been illegally diverting these pain killers to others.
The Board also found that Thomas failed to act when urine tests revealed that his patients were taking illegal narcotics, such as cocaine and heroin. The urine tests also showed no presence of the pain killers that Thomas had prescribed, a warning sign that patients were not taking the pain killers, but instead may have been providing the pills to others.
In reviewing six patient records presented by the State, the Board found that Thomas did not document appropriate physical examinations of the patients; did not document patient medical histories; did not create treatment plans; and did not perform or order diagnostic testing. The State maintained that Thomas’ conduct constituted gross negligence that “endangered the life, health, welfare or safety” of his patients.
Thomas, who has his office in North Arlington, prescribed painkillers for his patients without adequate medical justification, including Oxycodone, OxyContin, and others.
The Board also found that Thomas failed to appropriately respond when he discovered some patients had high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, and other medical conditions.
The interim license suspension is indefinite, pending the outcome of the plenary hearing on the State’s Verified Complaint.
Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.