Texas doctor suspended after public intoxication arrest

The Texas Medical Board temporarily suspended a physician on Wednesday after learning that he was arrested by the Lamesa Police Department on charges of public intoxication while in the Medical Arts Emergency Room in Lamesa.

The Texas Medical Board learned that Dr. Rafael Fermin Garcia was arrested on Jan. 5, 2020.

In a news release, the TMB said Dr. Garcia was allegedly on call in the emergency room at the time of his arrest.

A temporary suspension hearing with notice will be held as soon as practicable with 10 days’ notice to DrGarcia, unless the hearing is specifically waived by Dr. Garcia, the news release said.

The temporary suspension remains in place until the board takes further action.

According to the board, a separate order was issued in 2001, temporarily suspending Dr. Garcia’s license due to “evidence and information that his continuation in the practice of medicine would constitute a continuing threat to public welfare.”

Six months later, his license was suspended due to “inability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients because of excessive use of drugs, narcotics, chemicals, and other substance, and prescribing or administering a drug or treatment that is non-therapeutic in nature or non-therapeutic in the manner the drug or treatment is administered or prescribed.”

A year later, in 2002, his suspension was stayed and Dr. Garcia was placed on probation for 10 years under certain terms and conditions.