[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 12105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6101]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Drug Enforcement Administration


Douglas W. Wooldridge, M.D.; Revocation of Registration

    On March 18, 2002, the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of 
Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), issued an 
Order to Show Cause to Douglas W. Wooldridge, M.D. (Dr. Wooldridge) of 
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, notifying him of an opportunity to show 
cause as to why DEA should not revoke his DEA Certificate of 
Registration, AW1232088 under 21 U.S.C. 824(a), and deny any pending 
applications for renewal of that registration pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 
823(f). As a basis for revocation, the Order to Show Cause alleged that 
Dr. Wooldridge is not currently authorized to practice medicine or 
handle controlled substances in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 
state in which he practices. The order also notified Dr. Wooldridge 
that should no request for a hearing be filed within 30 days, his 
hearing right would be deemed waived.
    The Order to Show Cause was sent by certified mail to Dr. 
Wooldridge at his registered location in Wellesley Hills, 
Massachusetts. On June 6, 2002, DEA received a signed receipt 
notification indicating that the Order to Show Cause was apparently 
forwarded from Dr. Wooldridge's registered location to a second 
location where it was received by a John Wooldridge on March 27, 2002. 
DEA has not received a request for hearing or any other reply from Dr. 
Wooldridge or anyone purporting to represent him in this matter. 
Therefore, the Deputy Administrator, finding that (1) 30 days have 
passed since the receipt of the Order to Show Cause, and (2) no request 
for a hearing having been received, concludes that Dr. Wooldridge is 
deemed to have waived his hearing right. After considering material 
from the investigative file in this matter, the Deputy Administrator 
now enters his final order without a hearing pursuant to 21 CFR 
1301.43(d) and (e) and 1301.46.
    The Deputy Administrator finds that Dr. Wooldridge currently 
possesses DEA Certificate of Registration AW1232088 and that 
registration remains valid until May 31, 2003. The Deputy 
Administration further finds that by Order dated June 13, 2001, the 
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine (Board) ordered the 
suspension of Dr. Wooldridge's medical license. The suspension order 
arose out of Dr. Wooldridge's apparent failure to comply with terms of 
a probation agreement that he entered into with the Board on March 3, 
1999.
    The investigative file contains no evidence that the Board's 
suspension order has been stayed or that Dr. Wooldridge's medical 
license has been reinstated. Therefore, the Deputy Administrator finds 
that Dr. Wooldridge is not currently authorized to practice medicine in 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a result, it is reasonable to 
infer that he is also without authorization to handle controlled 
substances in Massachusetts.
    DEA does not have statutory authority under the Controlled 
Substances Act to issue or maintain a registration if the applicant or 
registrant is without state authority to handle controlled substances 
in the state in which he conducts business. See 21 U.S.C. 802(21), 
823(f) and 824(a)(3). This prerequisite has been consistently upheld. 
See Muttaiya Darmarajeh, M.D., 66 FR 52936 (2001); Dominick A. Ricci, 
M.D., 58 FR 51104 (1993); Bobby Watts, M.D., 53 FR 11919 (1988).
    Here, it is clear that Dr. Wooldridge's medical license has been 
suspended, and as a result, he is not licensed to handle controlled 
substances in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where he is registered 
with DEA. Therefore, he is not entitled to a DEA registration in that 
state.
    Accordingly, the Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement 
administration, pursuant to the authority vested in him by 21 U.S.C. 
823 and 824 and 28 CFR 0.100(b) and 0.104, hereby orders that DEA 
Certificate of Registration AW1232088, issued to Douglas W. Wooldridge, 
M.D. be, and it hereby is, revoked. The Deputy Administrator further 
orders that any pending applications for renewal of such registration 
be, and they hereby are, denied. This order is effective April 14, 
2003.

    Dated: February 27, 2003.
John B. Brown III,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-6101 Filed 3-12-03; 8:45 am]
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