Doctor’s license suspended after federal convictions

Published 3:17 pm Friday, September 26, 2014

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — State health officials have suspended the license of Dr. Keith Ly, an osteopathic physician and surgeon, following his conviction on federal criminal charges.

The suspension of Ly’s license means that he can’t practice medicine until the state’s licensing charges are resolved. Ly’s attorney, Barry Witlin, said that an appeal of the state action is planned.

Ly has been licensed to practice medicine in Washington since 1999. His clinic is in Mountlake Terrace.

In August, Ly was convicted in U.S. District Court on 10 felony counts of marijuana and wire-fraud crimes. These include a conspiracy to distribute or manufacture marijuana with 100 or more marijuana plants and manufacturing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a playground, according to state documents.

The state alleges that the convictions violate state laws on controlled substances. Such violations by licensed health care providers require suspension of their professional licenses.

Witlin said he does not believe that Ly’s license should have been suspended. “The allegations they’re basing his summary suspension upon have nothing to do with his medical practice or providing medical services in his office,” he said. “We’re hopeful they will keep an open mind to consider all the facts.”

Witlin said that Ly testified in federal court that he was innocent and “maintains to this day” that he was not involved in the marijuana case. “There was no evidence of any distribution, dispensing or sale of any marijuana that was ever tied to him,” Witlin said.

In a separate issue, state health officials also allege that they found practices in Ly’s office that didn’t comply with the state’s immunization program requirements. Some of the issues date back to 2012. These allegedly include expired medication in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, unlabeled vials of medication, uncapped tubes of antibiotic ointment in the clinic’s exam rooms, and hiring employees who aren’t medically licensed to give injections and help with procedures.

“We’ve already filed our denial of those allegations,” Witlin said, and a hearing has been scheduled.

Ly’s practice includes family medicine, dermatology and cosmetic procedures, according to his website. He is a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com