A Murray optometrist was charged with prescribing drugs and providing medical services after he had lost those privileges.
Rick Samuel Robison was charged with two counts of forging a prescription, a third-degree felony; two counts of possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony; and unlawful professional conduct, a third-degree felony.
"Optometrists may prescribe for eye diseases and disorders," said Laura Poe, assistant director for the state Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.
Dane Dansie, president of the Utah Optometric Association, said optometrists have been able to prescribe certain antibiotics and controlled substances for eye conditions in Utah since 1975.
But problems started after Robison, 43, surrendered his rights to prescribe controlled substances, according to recent charges filed in 3rd District Court.
Robison voluntarily surrendered this privilege to preclude a hearing before the licensing board, said Lauri Arensmeyer, communications coordinator for DOPL. He also agreed to a five-year probation on his Utah Optometrist License.
DOPL records show "he admits that despite efforts to rehabilitate, he has a substance-abuse problem," Arensmeyer said.
Arensmeyer said DOPL tried to help Robison beat his drug addiction, beginning in November 1995 but two years later he allegedly forged a prescription, which led to his June 1998 surrender of controlled-substances prescribing privileges.
In February 1999, an employee at Robison's Murray eye practice said she was suffering from migraine headaches and Robison allegedly wrote a prescription for Lortab using a different doctor's name and Drug Enforcement Administration prescribing number.
The woman filled the prescription, brought it to work and left it where it was available to others, charges state. Robison allegedly had taken "his share," of the medication out of the pharmacy bag, charges say.
In May 2000, DEA agents went to Robison's office undercover, posing as patients, charges say. Robison allegedly wrote prescriptions for Lortab, Soma and Zovirax for the "patients." He allegedly used the name and DEA prescription number of the same doctor as he had earlier.
The agents went to a pharmacy and filled the prescriptions, charges state. Robison allegedly met them in the parking lot and paid money for some of the drugs.
The agents then arrested him.
Court documents say Robison admitted to forging the prescriptions and said he was an addict.
In July 2000, Robison surrendered his license to practice optometry in Utah, documents say.
But he allegedly continued to practice through late November 2000 when two DOPL representatives went to his office, again covertly, acting as a husband-wife couple.
Charges state the "husband" was pretending to be interested in Lasik eye surgery. Robison allegedly examined his eyes and determined surgery could be performed on one eye.
The couple asked Robison how many surgeries he had performed. He told them he wasn't an eye surgeon but an optometrist, charges say.
DOPL investigators determined Robison was acting as if he were practicing medicine, charges say. If convicted, he faces 15 years in jail.
Arensmeyer said he's able to reapply for an optometry license in 2003 but that doesn't necessarily mean he will receive one.
E-MAIL: lhancock@desnews.com