A Bellevue rheumatologist’s medical license was placed on five year’s probation by the Washington Department of Health this month for a score of offenses that included hiring unlicensed nurses, poor record-keeping, questionable prescriptions and violations of physician-patient boundaries, which resulted in one marriage.
Carl J. Brodie, a 24-year Washington physician and surgeon, entered into an order agreement with the Medical Quality Assurance Commission on Jan. 8 that confirms the findings of an investigation brought about by a whistleblower complaint about the doctor’s practice.
The Bellevue doctor began treating a 36-year-old female patient for symptoms from lupus in 1994, entering into a sexual relationship in 2009 that lasted through 2011, according to charging documents.
During this time Brodie continued prescribing the patient opioids, benzodiazepine and other medications, including a questionable and life-threatening drug. MQAC states in charges that Brodie failed to educate the patient about the risks of opioids and other medications, as he did in other patients’ cases.
He hired the patient as his office manager a year after their relationship began, charges state, prescribing her medications paid for through insurance he provided at his practice, Immune Disease Treatment Services. He also allegedly wrote prescriptions for the patient’s daughter and did not maintain records of her as a patient. He also reported writing prescriptions for his office manager-lover’s dog, which MQAC states exceeded the scope of his practice.
Brodie reportedly had engaged in a previous sexual relationship with a patient sometime after treatments began in 2002, marrying her in 2005. They divorced in 2009. The doctor continued her treatments during their relationship.
And prior to that Brodie allegedly had a relationship with another woman, stating the relationship ended in 1996 — before he began treating her in 2001. MQAC states Brodie also wrote questionable prescriptions for the woman and kept shoddy patient records.
The Bellevue doctor also hired unlicensed nurses, first in 2006 — that employee was certified a year later — and again in 2009. In 2010, Brodie signed blank prescriptions for staff to fill while he was on vacation, according to charges.
Brodie’s record-keeping was so poor and lacking in detail, MQAC states several patients were denied disability insurance coverage and medications, many unable to get their records to their insurers in a timely fashion.
A registered nurse working for Brodie was interviewed by a Department of Health investigator in May 2011, and had her employment terminated a month later. He also contested her application for unemployment compensation, which she was granted six months later, when the doctor’s claims were found without merit.
He also fired a contractor in 2011, later filing a criminal complaint with Bellevue Police that alleged they overbilled him for services. The case was closed without charges.
Along with probation, Brodie agreed to completing a professional boundaries program, taking an opioid prescribing course, paying a $35,000 fine and a number of other corrective and educational actions.
