[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62683-62694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24697]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Drug Enforcement Administration

[Docket No. 12-43]


Mark G. Medinnus, D.D.S.; Decision and Order

    On October 17, 2012, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Gail A. Randall 
issued the attached Recommended Decision (hereinafter, cited as 
R.D.\1\). The Government filed Exceptions to the Recommended Decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ All citations to the R.D. are to the ALJ's slip opinion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Having reviewed the record in its entirety, I reject the 
Government's Exceptions and adopt the ALJ's findings of fact and 
conclusions of law except as discussed below. I also adopt in part, and 
reject in part, the ALJ's recommended order. A discussion of the 
Government's Exceptions follows.

The Government's Exceptions

The Unauthorized Purchase Allegation

    The Government first takes exception to the ALJ's finding that it 
failed to prove that Respondent, while serving as the dental director 
of the Round Valley Indian Health Clinic (RVIHC), made an unauthorized 
purchase of two controlled substances (hydrocodone and codeine). 
Exceptions at 2. The contention is not well taken as either a factual 
or legal matter.
    The evidence showed that on November 29, 2010, Respondent prepared 
a purchase order for various dental supplies, including one bottle of 
500 tablets of hydrocodone/acetaminophen and one bottle of 500 tablets 
of codeine/acetaminophen. GX 10, at 1-3; Tr. 151. The purchase order 
comprised all of one page and listed a total of eleven items; the order 
was approved by Jan Scribner, the deputy director of the RVIHC. Id.; 
Tr. 158. The evidence further showed that Ms. Scribner had authority to 
approve purchase orders in the absence of the RVIHC's executive 
director. GX 21.
    In challenging this finding, the Government takes issue with the 
ALJ's credibility findings. Citing Ryan v. CFTC, 145 F.3d 910, 918 (7th 
Cir. 1998), it argues that I am ``free to discount the weight that the 
ALJ placed on the testimony when the record would support an 
alternative finding.'' Exceptions at 1 (also citing Universal Camera 
Corp. v. NLRB, 340 U.S. 474 (1951)).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ In the Show Cause Order, the Government alleged both that 
Respondent made an unauthorized purchase of controlled substances, 
and that he stored and dispensed controlled substances at the 
RVIHC's dental clinic in violation of the RVIHC's guidelines for 
storing and dispensing controlled substances. ALJ Ex. 1, at 2. The 
ALJ reasoned that because Respondent ``reasonably believed the 
purchase order was duly approved, the Government's allegation that 
he failed to abide by RVIHC policies regarding the storage and 
dispensing of controlled substances, also fails.'' R.D. at 28. It 
is, however, far from clear why, even if Respondent had authority to 
order controlled substances, this would necessarily lead to the 
conclusion that he also had authority to store and dispense 
controlled substances out of the dental clinic.
     In taking exception to the ALJ's findings regarding the 
purchase, the Government also takes issue with the ALJ's finding 
that Respondent ``honestly and reasonably believed he possessed the 
necessary authority to store and dispense controlled substances in 
[the RVIHC] dental department.'' Exceptions at 2. To the extent the 
Government has even properly put this finding at issue, I reject its 
contention, because, by itself, it does not establish a violation of 
the CSA or state law, or otherwise actionable misconduct under the 
public interest standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    More specifically, the Government requests that I reject the ALJ's 
credibility findings regarding the testimony of both Respondent (whom 
she found credible on the issue of whether a dental clinic employee had 
told him that the executive director had approved the purchase order, 
see R.D. at 12, 27) and the clinic employee (whom she found not 
credible when she testified that the executive director did not think 
it was a good idea because of Respondent's history of substance abuse, 
see id.). See Exceptions at 2-6. While the Government clearly misreads 
Ryan,\3\ I conclude that it is not

[[Page 62684]]

necessary to either adopt or reject the ALJ's credibility findings, 
because even were I to reject the findings with respect to both 
Respondent and the clinic employee, the Government cannot overcome the 
evidence that the purchase order was approved by an official of the 
clinic, who indisputably had authority to do so. R.D. at 12, 27; Tr. 
158.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ At issue in Ryan was whether an Agency was required to defer 
to an ALJ's finding that an applicant for a trader's license ``was 
fully rehabilitated and not a threat to the integrity of the 
[commodities] markets,'' which was based on the ALJ having found 
credible the testimony of the applicant's character witnesses. See 
145 F.3d at 918. The Commission discredited the testimony because 
``almost every one can produce'' a character witness who will 
testify as to his/her ``belief that the defendant will not repeat 
his violative conduct,'' and because the ``testimony reflected at 
most a perfunctory concern with the customers harmed by Ryan's 
wrongdoing.'' Id. (internal citation omitted).
     The Seventh Circuit held that the Commission could ``discredit 
the weight of a witness's testimony without impinging on an ALJ's 
credibility determinations.'' Id. As the court of appeals further 
explained:
    The Commission must attribute significant weight to an ALJ's 
findings based on a witness's demeanor because it does not have the 
opportunity to observe a testifying witness. This recognition, 
however, does not preclude the Commission from discounting the 
weight that an ALJ places on witness's testimony when the Commission 
questions the witness's basis of knowledge.
    Id. In short, Ryan provides no support for the Government's 
contention, which ignores that the ALJ's finding involves an issue 
of historical fact and involves a classic situation in which an 
assessment of each witness's demeanor is essential in making a 
factual finding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Government attempts to overcome this evidence, arguing that in 
an affidavit, the deputy director ``unequivocally states that she was 
not aware [that] the purchase order, which contained a number of items, 
also contained an order for controlled substances.'' Exceptions at 7. 
The Government then argues that ``[a] review of the purchase order 
shows that . . . the controlled substances order is buried in the 
middle/end of the purchase order.'' Id.
    The Government's argument is wholly unpersuasive. Notably, the 
purchase order was but a single page in length and listed all of eleven 
items. GX 10, at 1. Moreover, the purchase order clearly described the 
respective controlled substances as ``1 bottle'' of ``Hydrocodone'' and 
``1 bottle'' of ``APAP w/codeine.'' Id. Thus, even a cursory review of 
the purchase order by the deputy director should have revealed that it 
contained controlled substances. I thus give no weight to the assertion 
of the deputy director that she inadvertently approved the order and 
reject the Government's contention that Respondent's purchase of 
controlled substances was unauthorized.\4\ Cf. Consolidated Edison Co. 
v. United States, 221 F.3d 364, 371 (2d Cir. 2000) (``In general, 
individuals are charged with knowledge of the contents of documents 
they sign--that is, they have `constructive knowledge' of those 
contents.'').\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ In her affidavit, the Deputy Director also stated that 
``RVIHC does not order controlled substances from Henry Schein,'' 
that it ``orders all controlled substances from other government 
suppliers by RVIHC contracts with those venders [sic],'' and that 
``[t]his procedure has been long standing and well known to all 
relevant staff.'' GX 21, at 1. The Government, however, produced no 
evidence that these purported procedures have been memorialized in 
writing. Nor did the Government establish that Respondent was aware 
of any such policy. Beyond this, the Deputy Director's assertion 
that the procedure is well known undermines any claim that she is a 
disinterested witness, which, given that her testimony constitutes 
hearsay, is a relevant consideration in determining the reliability 
of her statement.
    \5\ Given that the purchase order was but a single page, listed 
only eleven items, and clearly listed hydrocodone and codeine as 
among the items to be purchased, see GX 10, it is fair to draw the 
inference that the Deputy Director had actual knowledge that 
Respondent was seeking controlled substances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Even if the Government's contention was supported by substantial 
evidence, I would nonetheless reject the exception. Notably, while the 
Government argues--as an afterthought--that Respondent used the 
clinic's ``DEA registration without authorization from RVIHC executive 
personnel,'' it does not go so far as to maintain that this constitutes 
a violation of the Controlled Substances Act. See Exceptions at 10, but 
see 21 U.S.C. 843(a)(2) (``It shall be unlawful for any person 
knowingly or intentionally . . . to use for the purpose of acquiring or 
obtaining a controlled substance, a registration number which is . . . 
issued to another person.''). Indeed, notwithstanding that Respondent 
could not account for forty tablets of hydrocodone, the evidence showed 
that the drugs were generally dispensed to patients in the course of 
providing dental treatment. Finally, while in its post-hearing brief, 
the Government notes that both factors four (compliance with applicable 
controlled substance laws, 21 U.S.C. 823(f)(4)) and five (such other 
conduct which may threaten public health and safety, id. Sec.  
823(f)(5)), are to be considered in determining the public interest, it 
does not cite to any provision of state law that Respondent violated in 
making the purported unauthorized purchase.\6\ Nor does it cite to any 
Agency decision holding that a violation of a clinic's internal 
operating policies, which does not otherwise violate the CSA or state 
law, constitutes conduct ``inconsistent with the public interest.'' 21 
U.S.C. 824(a)(4). Thus, even if the Government had proved that 
Respondent made an unauthorized purchase of the two drugs, I would 
reject the exception because it fails to establish actionable 
misconduct under the public interest standard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Indeed, in its brief containing its proposed findings of 
fact and conclusions of law, the only provisions of law or 
regulations cited by the Government are various recordkeeping 
requirements, which it is undisputed that Respondent violated. Gov't 
Prop. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Argument 
(hereinafter, Gov't Post-Hrng. Br.) at 19 (citing 21 U.S.C. 
827(a)(3); 21 CFR 1304.22(c)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ALJ's Finding That Respondent Has Accepted Responsibility

    The ALJ found that Respondent took responsibility for his actions 
and ``repeatedly demonstrated remorse for his conduct at the RVIHC.'' 
R.D. at 29. The Government takes exception to this finding, arguing 
that while Respondent acknowledged the misconduct he committed prior to 
2008, he ``was not candid and not willing to accept actual 
responsibility for his [more recent] violations,'' which included his 
``inaccurate dispensing records, the unlawful dispensing to an unknown 
patient, and the failure to keep a dispensing log as required by'' the 
probation imposed by the Dental Board of California when it issued him 
a new license. Exceptions at 8 (emphasis added).
    Respondent is, however, only required to accept responsibility for 
the misconduct which the Government has proven on the record. See 
Jeffrey P. Gunderson, 61 FR 26208, 26211 (1996) (a respondent must 
``admit to the full extent of his involvement in documented 
misconduct''). With respect to the alleged ``unlawful dispensing to an 
unknown patient,'' Exceptions at 8, the Government points to evidence 
that Respondent ``dispensed hydrocodone to a transient without eve 
[sic] documenting that he ever saw this person as a patient at the time 
he dispensed the Vicodin.'' Gov't Post-Hrng. Br. at 23. The Government 
argues that ``[t]his incident is not just a `documentation' error but 
is tantamount to outright diversion.'' Id. Yet, the ALJ found that 
Respondent ``credibly testified that he had examined the patient on 
January 20, 2011, and observed that he needed a surgical extraction,'' 
that ``[w]hen the patient returned to [the clinic] on January 24, 2011, 
[Respondent] could not perform the extraction because of his busy 
schedule,'' and that ``[w]hen the patient reported experiencing pain 
symptoms, [he] agreed to provide him with hydrocodone to temporarily 
alleviate his symptoms.'' R.D. at 14.
    The Government did not, however, take exception to these 
findings.\7\ Thus, while in its post-hearing brief, the Government 
argued that Respondent engaged in ``outright diversion'' when he 
provided hydrocodone to this patient, and in its Exceptions, it argues 
that he has failed to accept

[[Page 62685]]

responsibility for the ``unlawful dispensing,'' I conclude that 
Government has offered no reason to reject the ALJ's findings. 
Moreover, Respondent acknowledged that he failed to properly document 
the dispensing. Tr. 523. Because Respondent accepted responsibility 
with respect to the only misconduct the Government proved with respect 
to this patient, I reject the Government's contention to the extent it 
relies on Respondent's act of dispensing a controlled substance to this 
patient.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Nor did the Government offer any evidence at the hearing as 
to the standards of dental practice and establishing that Respondent 
acted outside of the usual course of professional practice when he 
dispensed hydrocodone to this patient. See 21 CFR 1306.04(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The record, however, does establish that Respondent failed to 
maintain accurate dispensing records, as well as a dispensing log, 
which was required under the terms of the Dental Board's order, which 
restored his dental license. While there is some evidence to support 
the Government's contention that Respondent did not accept 
responsibility for his failure to maintain accurate records, I conclude 
that the ALJ's finding is supported by the record as a whole.
    At the hearing, Government counsel asked Respondent whether it was 
correct that he did not keep ``a separate dispensing record when [he] 
started to use the Vicodin . . . that [he] had ordered.'' Tr. 491. 
Respondent answered that this was ``[a]bsolutely correct.'' Id. When 
asked by the Government whether he had ``the legal duty to keep 
accurate records of th[e] Vicodin supply,'' Respondent answered: ``I 
do.'' Id. at 498. And when asked whether it was correct that because he 
``had the supply, . . . did the dispensing directly to the patients, . 
. . [he] had the obligations to keep an accurate patient chart as well 
as a log,'' Respondent answered: ``Absolutely. That's why I say I 
didn't do it right.'' Id. at 499.
    Subsequently, the Government asked Respondent whether ``hav[ing] 
shortages and . . . overages'' is ``a violation of DEA law?'' Id. at 
509. Respondent answered that he knew that he had violated the State 
Board's order but that he did not know if this was a violation of 
federal law. Id. The Government then asked Respondent if it was ``a 
violation of DEA law not to keep a separate dispensing log for narcotic 
controlled substances?'' Id. at 509-10. Respondent answered:

    I don't know, but I do know that I violated [the State] order. 
I'm willing to stipulate that I violated that too. However you want 
to characterize it, they wouldn't have happened if I hadn't made my 
mistakes. There would be no three separate logs. So if you want to 
say that I violated a couple of steps, of course, I'm willing to 
stipulate that there was a tough time in my life. I'm sorry. I don't 
mean, if I get argumentative, I ask the Court's forgiveness.

Id.

    Respondent also testified that he had abused the public trust in 
his handling of Vicodin while at the RVIHC. Tr. 539-40. While 
Respondent subsequently testified that there was a difference in degree 
between his previous violations and the violations he committed at 
RVIHC, he testified that ``I abused the public trust here'' and ``I 
screwed up.'' Id. And while his closing statement is not technically 
evidence, therein, Respondent stated: ``I'm sorry that I made the 
mistakes in the past and then more recently.'' Id. at 554.
    Ignoring nearly all of the evidence which supports the ALJ's 
finding, the Government argues that ``Respondent repeatedly minimized 
the significance of his dispensing-record violations.'' Exceptions at 
10. As support for this contention, it quotes Respondent's testimony 
that ``we're talking about 40 tabs. . . . so I'm going to jeopardize my 
licenses for 40 Vicodin tabs . . . [f]or forty tabs?'' \8\ Respondent 
did not, however, offer this testimony to downplay the dispensing 
record violations but rather to respond to the insinuation (which 
permeates the proceeding but which is unproven on the record) that he 
had resumed self-abusing controlled substances. Accordingly, I reject 
the Government's contention that Respondent has failed to accept 
responsibility for his misconduct.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The Government points to several other portions of 
Respondent's testimony which it asserts provide evidence that he has 
not admitted to his misconduct. See Exceptions at 8-9. As support 
for these assertions, the Government did not cite to the specific 
pages of the transcript or exhibits, as is required by DEA's 
regulation, see 21 CFR 1316.66(a), but to a document which is 
abbreviated as ``FCA.'' Id. Nowhere in its Exceptions does the 
Government identify what this term means, and while it may be a 
reference to the Government's proposed findings of fact, conclusion 
of law, and argument, the Agency has previously held that citation 
to a post-hearing brief does not comply with the regulation and is 
ground to reject an exception. See Carlos Gonzales, 76 FR 63118, 
63119 (2011).
    In any event, I have considered the entirety of Respondent's 
testimony in reviewing the ALJ's finding and conclude that much of 
the testimony cited by the Government is not probative of whether he 
has accepted responsibility for his failure to maintain accurate 
records. For example, the Government contends that ``Respondent did 
not admit to wrongdoing when he was asked during cross-examination 
whether the audit shortages could be partially attributable to the 
hydrocodone he gave to the transient patient.'' Exceptions at 9. A 
review of what appears to be the relevant portion of the transcript 
shows that the Government asked Respondent whether the forty dosage 
unit shortage ``could be accounted for, if not in total, at least in 
part based on the amount of Vicodin that [he] dispensed to [the] 
transient that did not get charted.'' Tr. 528. Respondent answered: 
``I suppose some of the Vicodin, some of those 40 tabs could have 
been it. I don't know. I'm confused. Do you want me to confess to 
something?'' Id. The Government offers no further explanation as to 
why this testimony supports rejection of the ALJ's finding.
    The Government also points to a question it asked Respondent 
about an email to the RVIHC Executive Director, in which he wrote 
that he ``desperately wanted to be liked by the natives so I 
prescribed Vicodin too liberally.'' Exceptions at 9; see also Tr. 
506. When asked whether this was ``a true statement,'' Respondent 
answered: ``No, I was being disingenuous.'' Tr. 506. While this 
answer does not inspire confidence in Respondent's credibility, the 
Government neither alleged, nor established that he acted outside of 
the usual course of professional practice and lacked a legitimate 
medical purpose with respect to any of the dispensings he made to 
the clinic's patients, and by itself, the testimony is insufficient 
to support rejection of the ALJ's credibility findings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    However, while I adopt the ALJ's finding that Respondent has 
accepted responsibility for his misconduct, I nonetheless conclude that 
the ALJ's proposed sanction does not adequately protect the public 
interest. As noted above, pursuant to the Dental Board's order which 
restored his dental license, Respondent was required to ``maintain a 
record of all controlled substances prescribed, dispensed or 
administered by [him] during probation.'' GX 7, at 7. This record was 
required to be maintained ``in a separate file or ledger,'' and to 
include, ``in chronological order,'' each patient's name and address, 
the date, the controlled substances and quantity, and ``the pathology 
and purpose for which the controlled substance was furnished.'' Id. 
Moreover, under federal law, Respondent was required to maintain a 
complete and accurate record of all controlled substances he dispensed. 
21 U.S.C. 827(a)(3); 21 CFR 1304.22(c).
    Notwithstanding the egregiousness of his prior misconduct, 
Respondent did not appreciate the forbearance shown by the Board \9\ 
and this Agency in granting him a second chance. Accordingly, while 
Respondent's application will be granted, his registration will be 
subject to the following conditions:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ As the ALJ found, Respondent has a history of substance 
abuse and in February 2003, pled guilty to one felony count of 
obtaining controlled substances by fraud in violation of Cal. Health 
& Safety Code Sec.  11173(a). R.D. at 8. While upon Respondent's 
successful completion of his probation, the conviction was reduced 
to a misdemeanor and then dismissed entirely, the record shows that 
Respondent unlawfully obtained approximately 30,000 dosage units of 
controlled substances. GX 3; GX 4, at 4-5; GX 5, at 2.
    Based on this misconduct, in September 2002, the Dental Board of 
California (DBC) filed an accusation against Respondent and he 
surrendered his state dental license. GX 5. On May 26, 2006, 
Respondent filed a petition to reinstate his dental license; on June 
12, 2007, the DBC granted the petition. GX 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. Upon the granting of Respondent's application, his registration 
will be suspended outright for a period of six months. Thereafter, 
Respondent's

[[Page 62686]]

registration will be suspended through the expiration of his 
registration; however, this portion of the suspension shall be stayed 
provided Respondent fully complies with the conditions imposed on his 
registration, the conditions of any existing or future Dental Board 
order which relate to the use or handling of controlled substances, as 
well as all federal and state controlled-substance laws and 
regulations.
    2. Respondent is prohibited from administering or dispensing 
directly controlled substances. Respondent is authorized only to 
prescribe controlled substances.
    3. Respondent is required to maintain a log, in chronological 
order, of all controlled-substance prescriptions he issues. The log 
must include the following information: (1) the date; (2) the patient's 
name and address; (3) the drug name, its strength, and quantity; and 
(4) the pathology and purpose of the prescription. Respondent shall 
maintain the log at his registered address. In addition, Respondent 
must provide a copy of the log to the nearest DEA field division 
office, on a quarterly basis, within seven calendar days of the last 
day of each quarter ending on March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, 
and December 31st.
    4. Respondent shall not prescribe any controlled substance to 
himself or a family member.
    5. Respondent is required to notify the nearest DEA field division 
office within 72 hours of any violation of this Order, any Dental Board 
Order, or any provision of federal or state law related to controlled 
substances.

Order

    Pursuant to the authority vested in me by 21 U.S.C. 823(f), as well 
as 28 CFR 0.100(b), I order that the application of Mark G. Medinnus, 
D.D.S., for a DEA Certificate of Registration as a practitioner, be, 
and it hereby is, granted, subject to the conditions set forth above. 
This Order is effective November 21, 2013.

    Dated: September 22, 2013.
Michele M. Leonhart,
Administrator.
Brian Bayly, Esq., for the Government
Mark Medinnus, D.D.S., pro se, for the Respondent

Recommended Rulings, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decision 
of the Administrative Law Judge

I. Procedural Background

    Gail A. Randall, Administrative Law Judge. The Deputy Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement 
Administration (``DEA'' or ``Government''), issued an Order to Show 
Cause (``Order'' or ``OSC'') dated March 22, 2012, proposing to deny 
the application of Mark G. Medinnus, D.D.S. (``Respondent'' or ``Dr. 
Medinnus'') for a DEA Certificate of Registration pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 
824(a)(2)-(4) and Sec.  823(f)(2)-(5), because the registration of the 
Respondent would be inconsistent with the public interest, as that term 
is used in 21 U.S.C. 823(f). [Administrative Law Judge Exhibit (``ALJ 
Exh.'') 1 at 1].
    The Order stated that Respondent had been previously registered 
with the DEA as a practitioner with authority to handle controlled 
substances in Schedules II-IV under DEA Certificate of Registration 
BM0207678. [Id.]. The Order stated that Respondent had voluntarily 
surrendered this registration on January 16, 2002. [Id.].
    The Order further stated that on July 30, 2008, Respondent had been 
granted a DEA Certificate of Registration FM0982808 as a practitioner 
with authority to handle controlled substances in Schedules II-IV. 
[Id.]. The Order stated that this registration expired without a timely 
renewal on January 31, 2011. [Id.].
    The Order also stated that on December 18, 2002, Respondent entered 
into a Stipulated Surrender of License and Order with the Dental Board 
of California wherein Dr. Medinnus surrendered his rights and 
privileges as a dentist in the state of California. [Id.]. The Order 
went on to state that on June 12, 2007, Respondent's dental license was 
reinstated subject to probationary conditions for a period of five 
years, including that he maintain a controlled substance dispensing log 
in chronological order. [Id. at 2]. The Order alleged that Respondent 
failed to maintain this required dispensing log. [Id.].
    The Order also stated that on February 23, 2003, Respondent pled 
guilty to a felony violation of Cal. Health & Safety Code Sec.  
11173(a) (West 2012) for obtaining controlled substances by fraud. 
[Id.]. The Order stated that the basis of this conviction was 
Respondent's use of DEA Certificate of Registration BM0207678 to divert 
more than 30,000 dosage units of hydrocodone, lorazepam, and diazepam 
for his personal use from approximately January 2000 through November 
2001. [Id.].
    Lastly, the Order alleged that in December 2010, while Respondent 
was an employee of the Round Valley Indian Health Center (``RVIHC''), 
Dr. Medinnus made an unauthorized purchase of bottles of hydrocodone 
and codeine using RVIHC's DEA registration. [Id.]. In addition, the 
Order alleged that in January 2011, Respondent failed to comply with 
RVIHC's guidelines regarding the storage and dispensing of controlled 
substances and that Respondent could not account for approximately 
sixty-eight tablets of hydrocodone/apap which he allegedly dispensed. 
[Id.]. The Deputy Assistant Administrator then gave the Respondent the 
opportunity to show cause as to why his application should not be 
denied on the basis of these allegations. [Id.].
    On April 5, 2012, Respondent timely filed a request for a hearing 
in the above-captioned matter. [ALJ Exh. 2].
    After authorized delays, the hearing was conducted on July 10-11, 
2012, in Sacramento, California. [ALJ Exh. 5]. At the hearing, counsel 
for the DEA called four witnesses to testify and introduced documentary 
evidence. [Transcript (``Tr.'') Volume I-II]. The Respondent called two 
witnesses to testify, including himself, and introduced documentary 
evidence. [Id.].
    After the hearing, the Government and the Respondent submitted 
Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Argument (``Govt. 
Brief'' and ``Resp. Brief'').

II. Issue

    The issue in this proceeding is whether or not the record as a 
whole establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the Drug 
Enforcement Administration should deny the application for a DEA 
Certificate of Registration of Mark G. Medinnus, D.D.S. as a 
practitioner, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 824(a)(2)-(4) (2006), and pursuant 
to 21 U.S.C. 823(f)(2)-(5), because the Respondent's registration would 
be inconsistent with the public interest, as that term is used in 21 
U.S.C. 823(f). [ALJ Exh. 4; Tr. 7].

III. Findings of Fact

A. Stipulated Facts

    1. On September 19, 2011, Dr. Medinnus applied for registration 
with DEA as a practitioner in Schedules II through V at 9024 Sniktaw 
Lane, Fort Jones, CA 96032.
    2. Dr. Medinnus was previously registered with DEA as a 
practitioner in Schedules II through IV under DEA Certificate of 
Registration BM0207678 at 1680 Westwood Drive, Suite C, San Jose, CA 
95125. Dr. Medinnus voluntarily surrendered this registration on 
January 16, 2002.
    3. On July 30, 2008, Dr. Medinnus was granted DEA Certificate of 
Registration FM0982808 as a

[[Page 62687]]

practitioner, in Schedules II through IV, at P.O. Box 459, Lewiston, CA 
96052. This registration expired without a timely renewal on January 
31, 2011.
    4. On September 3, 2002, the Dental Board of California, Department 
of Consumer Affairs, (hereinafter ``Dental Board'') issued an 
``Accusation'' which sought to revoke or suspend Dr. Medinnus' dental 
license. The ``Accusation'' alleged that Dr. Medinnus ordered 
controlled substances in order for his own and others illegal use and 
not in the course of his dental practice.
    5. On September 20, 2002, Dr. Medinnus entered into a ``Stipulated 
Surrender of License and Order'' with the Dental Board as a result of 
the September 3, 2002, Dental Board ``Accusation.'' In the September 
20, 2002, ``Stipulated Surrender of License and Order,'' Dr. Medinnus 
agreed to surrender his California dental license.
    6. Effective December 18, 2002, the Dental Board adopted the 
September 20, 2002, ``Stipulated Surrender of License and Order.''
    7. On February 27, 2003, Dr. Medinnus pled guilty in Santa Clara 
County to one felony count of a violation of California Health & Safety 
Code 11173, obtaining controlled substances by fraud. Dr. Medinnus was 
sentenced to probation.
    8. On April 27, 2006, Dr. Medinnus' felony conviction of California 
Health & Safety Code 11173 was reduced to a misdemeanor conviction 
under California Penal Code, Section 17, and then the conviction was 
dismissed under California Penal Code, Section 1203.4.
    9. On or about May 26, 2006, Dr. Medinnus petitioned the Dental 
Board to re-instate his license. On March 15, 2007, a Dental Board 
Administrative Law Judge submitted a ``Proposed Decision'' to grant Dr. 
Medinnus' petition to re-instate his dental license subject to 
probation for five years. The ``Proposed Decision'' was adopted by the 
Dental Board in a ``Decision'' on May 10, 2007. The ``Decision'' became 
effective on June 12, 2007.
    10. Hydrocodone, in combination dosage unit form, is a Schedule III 
narcotic controlled substance. Its brands, inter alia, include Lortab, 
Lorcet and Vicodin.
    11. Codeine with apap, in dosage unit form, is a Schedule III 
narcotic controlled substance.
    12. Lorazepam and diazepam are both Schedule IV depressant 
controlled substances.
    13. The Respondent stipulates that the Government can establish a 
prima facie case supporting the denial of his pending DEA Certificate 
of Registration application. [ALJ Exh. 6].

B. Respondent's Registration History

    The Respondent was first licensed to practice dentistry in 1985. 
[Govt. Exh. 5]. On November 25, 1985, the Agency issued a Certificate 
of Registration Number BM0207678 to Respondent as a practitioner with 
authority to handle controlled substances in schedules II-IV. [Govt. 
Exh. 2; Tr. 323]. Respondent voluntarily surrendered this registration 
for cause on January 18, 2002. [Govt. Exh. 2; Tr. 323-24].
    On July 23, 2008, Respondent applied for a new DEA Certificate of 
Registration. [Tr. 326]. This application was granted and the Agency 
issued Certificate of Registration Number FM0982808 to Respondent as a 
practitioner with authority to handle controlled substances in 
schedules II-IV. [Govt. Exh. 3; Resp. Exh. A74; Tr. 325-326]. This 
registration expired on January 31, 2011 and was retired from the DEA 
computer system on December 5, 2011. [Govt. Exh. 3].
    On September 19, 2011, Respondent submitted a new application for 
registration under DEA control number W11065544C. [Govt. Exh. 1; Tr. 
321]. This application is the subject of these proceedings. [Id.].

C. Respondent's Addiction History

    Respondent began experiencing headaches and tinnitus in 
approximately 1996 while he was working in a private family dentistry 
practice in San Jose, California. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 2]. To treat these 
conditions, Dr. Medinnus began to take Vicodin tablets from his office. 
[Id.]. By 1999, Respondent was addicted to Vicodin and he had begun to 
supply his family members with Vicodin for non-dental medical 
conditions. [Id.]. Respondent's headaches were eventually diagnosed as 
resulting from cataracts, and he underwent surgery. [Id.]. During his 
recovery from surgery and while suffering from depression, Respondent 
closed his dental practice in June 2000. [Id.]. Despite the closure of 
his practice, Dr. Medinnus continued to order large quantities of 
controlled substances to support his addiction and provide pills for 
his family members from approximately 2000 to 2001. [Id.; Tr. 426-427]. 
When confronted by a Dental Board of California (``DBC'' or ``the 
Board'') investigator in January 2002 regarding these orders, 
Respondent admitted to illegally obtaining these controlled substances 
and using them to support his addiction. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 2]. Dr. 
Medinnus voluntarily surrendered his DEA registration on January 18, 
2002 by signing a DEA Form 104. [Tr. 323].

D. 2002 DBC Action Against Respondent

    On September 3, 2002, the Dental Board of California (``DBC'' or 
``the Board'') filed an accusation against Respondent seeking to 
suspend or revoke his California dental license. [Govt. Exh. 4; Tr. 
327]. Therein, the DBC alleged that Respondent had ordered significant 
quantities of controlled substances, including hydrocodone, lorazepam, 
and diazepam, from approximately January 2000 to November 2001, for his 
own personal use and to unlawfully distribute to others. [Govt. Exh. 4 
at 3-5]. Respondent entered into a Stipulated Surrender of License and 
Order with the Board on September 20, 2002, wherein he admitted to the 
allegations contained in the DBC's accusation and surrendered his 
dental license to the Board. [Govt. Exh. 5; Tr. 328]. On November 18, 
2002, the Board adopted the Stipulated Surrender of License and Order 
in a Decision and Order which became effective on December 18, 2002. 
[Govt. Exh. 6; Tr. 329].

E. Respondent's 2003 Felony Conviction and Subsequent Exclusion From 
Medicare

    On February 27, 2003, Dr. Medinnus pled guilty in Santa Clara 
County, California to one felony count of a violation of Cal. Health & 
Safety Code Sec.  11173(a) (West 2012) for obtaining controlled 
substances by fraud. [Resp. Exh. 3]. Dr. Medinnus was sentenced to 
three years' probation. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 2]. Respondent successfully 
complied with all his probationary conditions and on April 27, 2006, 
Dr. Medinnus successfully petitioned to reduce his felony conviction to 
a misdemeanor pursuant to Cal. Penal Code Sec.  17(b)(3) (West 2012) 
and then dismissed pursuant to Cal. Penal Code Sec.  1203.4(a) (West 
2012). [Resp. Exh. A-17; Tr. 350-351].
    Pursuant to this felony conviction, the Department of Health and 
Human Services (``HHS'') excluded Dr. Medinnus from participating as a 
healthcare provider in Medicare for a period of five years. [Resp. Exh. 
A86]. In addition, on June 23, 2004, the Office of Personnel Management 
(``OPM'') debarred Respondent from participating in the Federal 
Employees Health Benefits Program. [Resp. Exh. A87]. On April 20, 2009, 
HHS reinstated Respondent's eligibility to participate as a Medicare 
provider and OPM terminated Respondent's debarment from the Federal 
Employees Health

[[Page 62688]]

Benefits Program. [Resp. Exh. A86-87; Tr. 356-357].

F. Respondent's Rehabilitation Program and Dental License Reinstatement

    Following Respondent's felony conviction, he began an intensive 
drug rehabilitation program. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 2-3]. This program 
included attending individual and group therapy sessions with a 
licensed therapist to address Respondent's mental health and substance 
abuse issues. [Resp. Exh. A5-8]. In addition, Respondent received 
psychiatric treatment, including medication, to treat his symptoms of 
depression. [Resp. Exh. A13-15]. Respondent also participated in 
frequent twelve-step program meetings and joined the board of a local 
transitional housing facility for recovering addicts. [Resp. Exh. A3-4; 
A9-11].
    On May 26, 2006, Respondent filed a petition for reinstatement of 
his California dental license. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 2]. As part of his 
petition, Dr. Medinnus submitted letters of recommendations from fellow 
dentists regarding his clinical abilities. [Resp. Exh. A32-34]. 
Respondent also proffered evidence regarding his family life, 
involvement in his stepchildren's elementary school and athletics 
programs and his own volunteer activities. [Resp. Exh. A19, A21, A25, 
A26-27, A30-31, A91]. After an administrative hearing, a state 
administrative law judge recommended that the DBC reinstate 
Respondent's dental license and place the Respondent on probation for a 
period of five years. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 5; Tr. 292-293]. The ALJ made 
detailed factual findings regarding Dr. Medinnus' successful drug 
rehabilitation program. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 3-4]. These included 
maintaining his sobriety from March 7, 2003, receiving outpatient 
medical and psychotherapy treatment, attending NA and AA meetings, and 
completing continuing dental education courses. [Id.]. The ALJ further 
found that Respondent had complied with all the terms of his criminal 
probation, recovered completely from his cataract surgery, and had 
credibly addressed the triggers that led to his drug addiction and 
diversion to his family members. [Id.].
    The ALJ recommended that Respondent's dental license be subject to 
several probationary conditions, including that he maintain a separate 
log of all controlled substances that he prescribed, dispensed or 
administered during his probationary period. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 7; 293-
294]. Among other conditions, Dr. Medinnus was also required to pass a 
dental licensing examination, undergo a psychiatric evaluation, 
participate in a diversion program offered by the Board, and be subject 
to random drug screenings. [Govt. Exh. 7 at 5-9]. On May 10, 2007, the 
Board adopted the ALJ's Decision, which became effective on June 12, 
2007. [Govt. Exh. 8; Tr. 330-331].
    To regain his probationary dental license, Dr. Medinnus 
successfully completed the mandated dental licensing examination on 
July 14, 2007. [Resp. Exh. A61; A85]. Respondent also received a 
comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, which favorably reported his 
ongoing recovery. [Resp. Exh. A57]. In addition, on December 6, 2007, 
Respondent was released from the Board mandated diversion program. 
[Resp. Exh. A58; Resp. Exh. 6]. During this time, Dr. Medinnus took and 
passed numerous random drug screens as directed by the DBC. [Resp. Exh. 
A45-47; A49; A51; A53-54]. When his probationary dental license was 
issued, Dr. Medinnus performed volunteer dental consulting work at 
Milestones Health Center in Weaverville, California. [Resp. Exh. A68; 
A76].

G. Respondent's Employment at RVIHC

    After the reinstatement of his dental license, Respondent 
negotiated an employment contract to work as the dental director at the 
Round Valley Indian Health Center, (``RVIHC'') which is located in 
Covelo, California. [Govt. Exh. 9; Tr. 31]. One of the terms of the 
employment contract was that the Respondent agreed to ``comply with all 
policies and procedures, rules and regulations of the RVIHC funding 
agencies and federal and state laws including all of the HIPPA 
requirements.'' [Govt. Exh. 9 at 2].
    James Russ, the executive director of RVIHC, testified at the 
hearing, and I find his testimony credible and consistent with the 
documentary evidence. Mr. Russ testified that prior to the negotiation 
of his contract, Dr. Medinnus voluntarily and freely disclosed his 
history of substance abuse and the surrender of his dental license and 
DEA registration in 2002 and its subsequent reinstatement. [Tr. 34-35].
    As RVIHC's executive director, Mr. Russ administers the day-to-day 
operations of the clinic's various departments. [Tr. 23-24]. Mr. Russ 
outlined RVIHC's operation and the services it provided including 
operating a medical center, dental clinic, outpatient physical or 
psychological treatment, and a group home. [Tr. 24-25]. He testified 
that all controlled substances ordered by RVIHC were stored in a 
central dispensary, which contained a locked safe. [Tr. 25-26]. Mr. 
Russ further testified that RVIHC's usual suppliers of controlled 
substances were McKesson and Pharmadex, and did not include Henry 
Schein, a supplier from whom RVIHC only ordered dental supplies. [Tr. 
40-41].
    Linda Lohne, a registered nurse and clinic manager at RVIHC, also 
testified at the hearing. [Tr. 186]. I find her testimony credible and 
consistent with the documentary evidence. As part of her clinic manager 
duties, Ms. Lohne oversaw RVIHC's ordering and dispensing of controlled 
substances. [Tr. 187]. She likewise testified that all controlled 
substances ordered under RVIHC's DEA registration were stored in the 
clinic's central dispensary. [Id.].
    Mr. Russ testified that Dr. Medinnus had discussed with him the 
possibility of storing hydrocodone in the dental department to obviate 
the need for Respondent or his dental staff to pick up the controlled 
substances at the dispensary and then return to the dental department 
to dispense them to the patients. [Tr. 51, 90; Resp. Exh. A134-135, 
A148]. Mr. Russ discussed his concerns about this request with 
Respondent, including his belief that the controlled substances would 
be more secure if they remained in the central dispensary. [Tr. 70-71].
    Dr. Medinnus testified that he sought to order controlled 
substances to store in the dental department because the dispensary 
would occasionally run low or out entirely of controlled substances. 
[Tr. 464-466]. But, Ms. Lohne testified that RVIHC never completely ran 
out of hydrocodone during 2010, although she did testify that the 
dispensary had run low on controlled substances, including having as 
little as five or seven dosage units on hand. [Tr. 240-241]. Ms. Lohne, 
however, also testified that RVIHC's dispensary might have run out of 
controlled substances by the end of some days. [Tr. 242-243].

H. November 29, 2010 Purchase Order

    Kimberly Stillwell, a dental sterilization technician at RVIHC, 
also testified at the hearing. [Tr. 149]. I find her testimony only 
partially credible. Though called as a witness for Respondent, her 
testimony suggested that she bore Dr. Medinnus substantial animus from 
his employment at RVIHC. Her demeanor while testifying was consistent 
with this animus towards Respondent and was repeatedly demonstrated by 
her nonresponsive answers or unsolicited comments adverse to 
Respondent. Therefore, I decline to credit much of her testimony.
    On November 29, 2010, Ms. Stillwell prepared a purchasing order to 
obtain supplies for RVIHC's dental department.

[[Page 62689]]

[Govt. Exh. 10; Tr. 151]. At the direction of Dr. Medinnus, she 
included one bottle of hydrocodone and one bottle of APAP with codeine 
along with other routine dental supplies in the order. [Id.]. Prior to 
preparing the order, Dr. Medinnus directed Ms. Stillwell to obtain 
authorization for the purchase order from Mr. Russ, specifically 
concerning the inclusion of controlled substances in the order. [Tr. 
153, 155]. Ms. Stillwell testified that she spoke to Mr. Russ before 
placing the purchase order. [Tr. 155]. During this conversation, Ms. 
Stillwell testified that Mr. Russ said he ``did not feel it was a good 
idea'' to order controlled substances for the dental department to 
dispense directly to patients. [Tr. 157-158]. Mr. Russ though could not 
recall the substance of this conversation with Ms. Stillwell at the 
hearing. [Tr. 50-51]. Despite Mr. Russ's misgivings, Ms. Stillwell 
informed Respondent that Mr. Russ had given his permission for the 
purchase order. [Tr. 158; Resp. Exh. A140].
    The purchase order was then ultimately approved by Jan Scribner, 
the deputy director of RVIHC, who possessed the ability to approve 
purchase orders in the absence of Mr. Russ. [Govt. Exh. 10; Govt. Exh. 
21; Tr. 46]. Ms. Scribner did not realize that the order contained a 
request to purchase controlled substances. [Govt. Exh. 21]. Nor did Ms. 
Stillwell inform her that the order contained a request to purchase 
controlled substances for use in the dental department. [Tr. 164-165]. 
Ms. Stillwell received the controlled substances from the purchase 
order on December 7, 2010 [Govt. Exh. 10 at 4; Tr. 48-49, 150]. She 
stored the bottle of hydrocodone and the bottle of APAP with codeine in 
a locked cabinet in the dental department and informed Dr. Medinnus of 
their arrival. [Tr. 169-170, 173].

I. Respondent's Dispensing of Controlled Substances at RVIHC

    Dr. Medinnus testified that he began to dispense hydrocodone 
directly to dental patients beginning on January 18, 2011. [Tr. 418]. 
Respondent did not dispense any of the APAP with codeine during this 
period. [Tr. 432]. Respondent testified that he only intended to 
dispense the hydrocodone on an emergency basis. [Tr. 418; 475-476]. He 
further testified that he was experiencing serious marital and personal 
problems during this period of time and that he was under a great deal 
of personal and professional stress due to the absence of dental 
department employees and the hospitalization of his mother-in-law. [Tr. 
436-437; Resp. Exh. A117, A123, A138]. Ms. Stillwell testified that she 
never saw Dr. Medinnus self-abuse any of the hydrocodone kept in the 
dental department. [Tr. 179-180].
    Dr. Medinnus did acknowledge that he did not keep a separate 
dispensing log for hydrocodone that he dispensed during this period. 
[Tr. 491; Govt. Exhs. 18, 19]. Instead, he notated the dispensing of 
hydrocodone in each patient's dental chart. [Tr. 68; Govt. Exh. 13]. He 
testified that by not keeping a separate dispensing log, he violated 
the conditions of his DBC probation. [Tr. 509].
    Respondent also testified that he dispensed hydrocodone to one 
patient, a transient named ``JC'', without recording it in the 
patient's chart. [Tr. 519-525]. Again, due to concerns about the bias 
she displayed during her testimony and her lack of recall regarding 
this specific patient, I decline to credit Ms. Stillwell's account of 
the dispensing of hydrocodone to this patient. [Tr. 178, 180-184]. Dr. 
Medinnus credibly testified that he had examined the patient on January 
20, 2011, and observed that he needed a surgical extraction on two of 
his teeth. [Tr. 421, 521-22]. When the patient returned to RVIHC on 
January 24, 2011, Dr. Medinnus could not perform the extraction because 
of his busy schedule. [Id.; Tr. 523]. When the patient reported 
experiencing pain symptoms, Dr. Medinnus agreed to provide him with 
hydrocodone to temporarily alleviate his symptoms. [Tr. 421-22, 522-
523]. Although Ms. Stillwell offered to retrieve the patient's chart to 
record the dispensing, Dr. Medinnus testified that due to the clinic's 
busy schedule, he did not receive the patient chart and thus he did not 
record the dispensing of hydrocodone to this patient in the chart. [Tr. 
422, 523-525].
    The Respondent accepted responsibility for his failure to document 
this dispensing to ``JC''. [Tr. 523]. Further, the Respondent offered 
to stipulate to the audit numbers' discrepancy, concluding that 
``[r]egardless, of course, the fault for this confusion is mine 
alone.'' [Resp. Brief at 7; see also Tr. 539-40; Govt. Exh. 19; ALJ 
Exh. 6].

J. Discovery of Respondent's Dispensing of Controlled Substances

    On December 14, 2010, independent pharmacy consultant, Tom 
Reidenbach, performed a quarterly drug utilization audit for RVIHC. 
[Tr. 53-54; Govt. Exh. 15]. In that report, he wrote that ``I 
recommended to Dr. Medinnus that all controlled substances continue to 
be dispensed from the dispensary.'' [Govt. Exh. 15 at 2].
    On January 27, 2011, Mr. Reidenbach conducted a chart audit related 
to the dispensing of hydrocodone. In his report, Mr. Reidenbach noted 
that there ``were several deficiencies in the dental clinic record 
keeping. There were 3 prescriptions that did not have chart orders 
evident. There were also 9 chart orders that were not dispensed from 
the dispensary. These were all after 1/20/11.''
    After receiving Mr. Reidenbach's report, Mr. Russ attended a 
meeting on January 28, 2011, with RVIHC staff to discuss Mr. 
Reidenbach's findings. [Tr. 59-62, 82-84]. During this meeting, a RVIHC 
staff member observed that the dispensary had experienced a dramatic 
decline in orders for hydrocodone from the dental department. [Tr. 61-
63]. Ms. Lohne, who was also at this meeting, had observed a similar 
gap in the patient orders for controlled substances from the dental 
department. [Tr. 193].
    At the conclusion of this meeting, Mr. Russ went to Dr. Medinnus' 
office and asked him if he had any hydrocodone in his office. [Tr. 63]. 
Respondent acknowledged that he had a bottle of hydrocodone in the 
dental office and he informed Mr. Russ that RVIHC management had 
approved the purchase order containing the hydrocodone bottle. [Id.]. 
Mr. Russ instructed Dr. Medinnus to take the hydrocodone bottle to the 
dispensary. [Tr. 65]. That same day, Dr. Medinnus turned over the 
bottle of hydrocodone and the unopened bottle of APAP with codeine to 
Ms. Lohne in the dispensary. [Tr. 195-196]. He did not have a 
dispensing log at that time. [Id.].
    One or two days later, Mr. Russ asked Dr. Medinnus if he had kept a 
dispensing log to track the hydrocodone he had dispensed. [Tr. 66-67]. 
Respondent said that he had not kept a dispensing log, so Mr. Russ 
instructed him to consult the patient charts and recreate a dispensing 
log to account for the dosage units he had dispensed. [Tr. 68]. Ms. 
Lohne also directed Dr. Medinnus to prepare a dispensing log for the 
bottle of hydrocodone. [Tr. 196]. Dr. Medinnus prepared this dispensing 
log for the hydrocodone he dispensed directly to patients from the 
dental department, and he provided the log to Ms. Lohne on February 2, 
2011. [Govt. Exh. 11; Resp. Exh. A161; Tr. 69, 198-199, 203].
    Mr. Russ then directed Ms. Lohne to account for the apparent 
discrepancies from Respondent's dispensing log to the number of dosage 
units left in the bottle when Dr. Medinnus turned it in to the 
dispensary. [Tr. 69-70, 188-189]. Ms.

[[Page 62690]]

Lohne began by determining that the bottle of hydrocodone originally 
contained five hundred dosage units when it was ordered from Henry 
Schein. [Tr. 198]. And when Dr. Medinnus provided the bottle to Ms. 
Lohne, she and another nurse physically counted the remaining pills and 
determined there were one hundred and forty dosage units left in the 
bottle. [Id.]. Then Ms. Lohne conducted a patient chart audit to verify 
the Respondent's dispensing log and she prepared a document summarizing 
the result of her review. [Govt. Exh. 12; Tr. 204-212].
    Her audit revealed that the dental department patient charts showed 
that Dr. Medinnus had dispensed three hundred and eighty-eight dosage 
units of hydrocodone, even though the Respondent's dispensing log 
showed he only dispensed three hundred and sixty dosage units of 
hydrocodone. [Govt. Exh. 12; Govt. Exh. 13; 208-211]. Ms. Lohne then 
crosschecked the patient charts and Respondent's dispensing log with 
the carbon copy duplicates of the prescription orders for hydrocodone 
associated with each patient file, which showed that Respondent had 
only dispensed three hundred and twenty dosage units of hydrocodone. 
[Govt. Exh. 12; Tr. 206-207]. When Ms. Lohne reviewed the patient 
charts, she noticed that in some files, Dr. Medinnus had altered the 
number of dosage units he had dispensed. [Govt. Exhs. 13, 19-20; Tr. 
221-236].
    Unwilling to credit the patient files altered by Respondent, Ms. 
Lohne concluded that RVIHC could not account for approximately forty 
dosage units of hydrocodone from the bottle that Dr. Medinnus had 
ordered. [Tr. 237-238]. Thus, on February 4, 2011, RVIHC filed a DEA 
Form 106, a Report of Theft or Loss of Controlled Substances, for forty 
hydrocodone tablets. [Govt. Exh. 14; Tr. 238]. Ms. Lohne testified that 
this figure came from her audit, which showed three hundred and twenty 
dosage units dispensed from the dental department according to 
duplicate prescription orders from each patient file and one hundred 
and forty dosage units remaining in the bottle when it was returned to 
the dispensary. [Tr. 238; Govt. Exh. 12].
    Following this report, Dr. Medinnus offered to report himself to 
his probation monitor, Shirley Boldrini, at the DBC. [Tr. 109]. On 
February 9, 2011, Respondent called and sent an email to Ms. Boldrini 
reporting a violation of his DBC probation. [Govt. Exhs. 18, 19]. That 
same day, Mr. Russ placed Dr. Medinnus on a thirty-day suspension. [Tr. 
109-110, 145; Resp. Exh. 4 at 24]. Respondent offered to perform a 
number of conditions during this suspension, including weekly drug 
testing, weekly therapy and AA meetings, and taking continuing dental 
education courses. [Tr. 97-99; Govt. Exh. 18]. Mr. Russ did not agree 
to these conditions. [Tr. 91]. However, during his suspension, Dr. 
Medinnus notified Ms. Boldrini that he was completing these self-
imposed conditions. [Resp. Exh. A125 at 1, 2, 11, and 17].
    The record also contains an email dated February 11, 2011, from the 
RVIHC psychologist, Dr. Mack, who had been treating the Respondent 
since the Fall of 2010. He concluded that ``the recent documentation 
error [by the Respondent] was the result of acute stress and fatigue 
and not an attempt to be deceitful or abuse the medication.'' [Resp. 
Exh. A123].
    On March 10, 2011, Dr. Medinnus resigned from RVIHC. [Resp. Exh. 
A126; Govt. Exh. 17].

K. DBC and DEA Investigation of Respondent

    Geno Davis, a DBC investigator, also testified at the hearing. [Tr. 
286]. I find his testimony credible and consistent with the documentary 
evidence. Mr. Davis serves as Respondent's current probation monitor 
for the Board. [Tr. 288]. When the Board was notified of a potential 
narcotic or drug discrepancy involving Dr. Medinnus while he was 
employed at RVIHC, Mr. Davis was assigned to be Respondent's probation 
monitor. [Tr. 289]. Mr. Davis interviewed Respondent at the Board's 
office in Sacramento, California in August 2011. [Tr. 294-295]. When 
asked about the discrepancies in Respondent's dispensing log for the 
hydrocodone, Dr. Medinnus told Mr. Davis that he had poured the 
hydrocodone tablets into a small envelope before giving it to each 
patient, which may have accounted for the discrepancies in the patient 
charts and his dispensing log because he may have inadvertently 
dispensed more tablets than he had intended. [Tr. 295-297].
    Following this interview, Mr. Davis contacted the Respondent by 
phone and asked him if he had personally taken any of the hydrocodone. 
[Tr. 298]. Dr. Medinnus denied taking any of the hydrocodone. [Id.]. 
Mr. Davis further testified that Respondent had taken drug-screening 
tests at the direction of the Board in 2011 and that all of his tests 
were negative. [Tr. 315; Resp. Exh. A128]. Lastly, Mr. Davis testified 
that the Board has filed an accusation against Respondent with the 
California Attorney General's Office regarding the lack of 
documentation in a dispensing log, and that the accusation is currently 
pending with that office. [Tr. 316-317].
    DEA Diversion Investigator Craig Tom also testified at the hearing. 
[Tr. 318--319]. I find his testimony credible and consistent with the 
documentary evidence. DI Tom was assigned to investigate Respondent's 
application for registration. [Tr. 320]. DI Tom coordinated his 
investigation with the DBC and also spoke with Mr. Russ regarding the 
Respondent's conduct at RVIHC. [Tr. 332-333]. DI Tom testified that Dr. 
Medinnus was truthful in the applications for registration that he 
submitted to the DEA. [Tr. 333]. DI Tom did not interview Dr. Medinnus. 
[Id.].

L. Respondent's Current Situation

    Dr. Medinnus currently possesses an active California dental 
license, subject to the probationary conditions imposed by the DBC's 
June 12, 2007 order. He is currently employed as a dentist at the ANAV 
Tribal Health Clinic in Fort Jones, California, where he has worked 
since April 21, 2011. [Resp. Exh. A129; Tr. 541]. Dr. Medinnus has not 
dispensed or prescribed any controlled substances while working at the 
ANAV Tribal Health Clinic. [Tr. 545]. Respondent credibly testified 
that obtaining a DEA registration may be necessary for him to continue 
at his present position and to be eligible to become the dental 
director. [Tr. 547-548]. In addition, Respondent proffered two letters 
of recommendation regarding his application for a DEA Registration from 
his supervisors at the ANAV Tribal Health Clinic. [Resp. Exh. A151-
152]. The ANAV Tribal Health Clinic does not store or dispense any 
narcotic medications and only faxes the prescriptions to neighboring 
pharmacies. [Id.].

IV. Statement of Law and Discussion

A. Position of the Parties

1. Government's Position
    The Government asserts that the appropriate remedy in this matter 
is denial of the Respondent's application. [Govt. Brief at 25-26]. 
First, the Government argues that by procuring the order of the bottle 
of hydrocodone and then subsequently surreptitiously dispensing it to 
dental patients, Respondent violated federal law, the terms of his DBC 
probation and his RVIHC contract. [Id. at 20-21]. Next, the Government 
cites Respondent's failure to maintain accurate dispensing records as 
further evidence of his unfitness to possess a DEA Registration. [Id. 
at 23-24]. Lastly, the Government cites Agency precedent and argues 
that Respondent's lack of candor at the

[[Page 62691]]

hearing and his inability to accept responsibility for his conduct also 
supports the denial of Respondent's application. [Id. at 21-23].
    The Government makes several arguments to justify the denial of 
Respondent's application. Primarily, the Government argues that 
Respondent violated federal law and his DBC probation by failing to 
maintain a contemporaneous dispensing log for the hydrocodone he 
dispensed to patients. [Id. at 20, 25]. Similarly, the Government 
contends that Respondent demonstrated his inability to comply with DEA 
recordkeeping requirements because he could not even recreate an 
accurate dispensing log from his own patient records. [Id. at 22, 24-
25]. And the Government also highlighted Respondent's failure to record 
in the patient chart the dispensing of hydrocodone to one of his 
patients, ``JC''. [Id. at 23]. In addition, the Government strenuously 
argues that Respondent has not accepted responsibility or shown any 
remorse for his conduct. [Id. at 21-23]. Instead, the Government argues 
that Respondent has ``downplayed, indeed mischaracterized, his 
violations'' and ``has not been truthful as to what really happened.'' 
[Id. at 21]. Nor, the Government contends, was Respondent candid with 
RVIHC personnel regarding his ordering and usage of hydrocodone in the 
dental department. [Id. at 22-23].
    In conclusion, the Government argues that Respondent's application 
for a DEA Certificate of Registration as practitioner is inconsistent 
with the public interest and that his application should be denied. 
[Id. at 25-26].
2. Respondent's Position
    Respondent asserts that the appropriate remedy in this matter is 
the conditional granting of his application. [Resp. Brief at 34-35]. 
First, Dr. Medinnus acknowledges his misconduct in not maintaining the 
required dispensing log at RVIHC pursuant to his DBC probation. [Id. at 
7-8, 20]. In mitigation, Respondent describes in detail the ``profound 
personal and professional hardship'' that he experienced during his 
employment at RVIHC. [Id. at 10-11, 20]. Respondent further notes that 
he self-reported his violations to the DBC and also fully disclosed the 
incident on his DEA application. [Id. at 20]. Respondent also argues 
that he has consistently taken responsibility for this misconduct, 
including in his testimony at the hearing. [Id. at 8-10, 20]. In 
addition, Dr. Medinnus argues that the record contains no evidence of 
self-abuse or diversion of controlled substances during his employment 
at RVIHC. [Id. at 9-10, 20].
    Next, Respondent argues that the Government has failed to prove its 
allegations that he made an unauthorized purchase of hydrocodone or 
that he violated RVIHC's policies on storing and dispensing by directly 
dispensing to patients in the dental department. [Id. at 20-33]. 
Respondent's primary claim is that Mr. Russ verbally authorized the 
November 29, 2011 purchase order, which rendered Respondent's 
subsequent storing and dispensing of the hydrocodone compliant with 
RVIHC's policy. [Id. at 26-31]. To this point, Respondent meticulously 
details RVIHC's changing policy on the dispensing of controlled 
substances during late 2010 and early 2011 and the problems that the 
dispensary had in maintaining adequate supplies of controlled 
substances. [Id. at 21-26]. Dr. Medinnus also argues that these 
allegations concerning the purchase and dispensing of hydrocodone were 
never disclosed to him or discussed with him until the DEA initiated 
the Order to Show Cause proceedings. [Id. at 31-33].
    Lastly, Respondent argues that denying his application for 
registration would be a disproportionate penalty for his conduct at 
RVIHC. [Id. at 20, 34]. Therefore, in light of Respondent's acceptance 
of responsibility, Respondent argues that granting his application for 
a restricted registration would be consistent with the public interest. 
[Id. at 34-35]. He recommends that his registration be subject to 
several conditions, including complying with the terms of his 
California dental license probation, being limited to only prescribing 
controlled substances and not administering, ordering, or dispensing 
them, being prohibited from prescribing controlled substances to 
himself or any family members, and maintaining a log of all controlled 
substances prescriptions he authorizes and providing this log to the 
local DEA office on a quarterly basis. [Id.].

B. Statement of Law and Analysis

    Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 823(f) (2006),\1\ the Deputy Administrator 
may deny an application for a DEA Certificate of Registration if he 
determines that such registration would be inconsistent with the public 
interest. In determining the public interest, the following factors are 
considered:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Deputy Administrator has the authority to make such a 
determination pursuant to 28 CFR 0.100(b), 0.104 (2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The recommendation of the appropriate State licensing board or 
professional disciplinary authority.
    (2) The applicant's experience in dispensing, or conducting 
research with respect to controlled substances.
    (3) The applicant's conviction record under Federal or State laws 
relating to the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of controlled 
substances.
    (4) Compliance with applicable State, Federal, or local laws 
relating to controlled substances.
    (5) Such other conduct which may threaten the public health and 
safety.

21 U.S.C. 823(f) (2006).
    These factors are to be considered in the disjunctive; the Deputy 
Administrator may rely on any one or a combination of factors and may 
give each factor the weight he deems appropriate in determining whether 
a registration should be revoked. See Robert A. Leslie, M.D., 68 FR 
15,227, 15,230 (DEA 2003). Moreover, the Deputy Administrator is ``not 
required to make findings as to all of the factors.'' Hoxie v. DEA, 419 
F.3d 477, 482 (6th Cir. 2005); see also Morall v. DEA, 412 F.3d 165, 
173-74 (D.C. Cir. 2005).
    The Government bears the ultimate burden of proving that the 
requirements for registration are not satisfied. 21 CFR 1301.44(d) 
(2012). However, where the Government has made out a prima facie case 
that Respondent's application would be ``inconsistent with the public 
interest,'' the burden of production shifts to the applicant to 
``present[] sufficient mitigating evidence'' to show why he can be 
entrusted with a new registration. See Medicine Shoppe--Jonesborough, 
73 FR 364, 387 (DEA 2008). To this point, the Agency has repeatedly 
held that the ``registrant must accept responsibility for [his] actions 
and demonstrate that [he] will not engage in future misconduct.'' 
Medicine Shoppe--Jonesborough, 73 FR at 387; see also Samuel S. 
Jackson, D.D.S., 72 FR 23,848, 23,853 (DEA 2007). In short, after the 
Government makes its prima facie case, the Respondent must produce 
sufficient evidence that he can be entrusted with the authority that a 
registration provides by demonstrating that he accepts responsibility 
for his misconduct and that the misconduct will not reoccur.
1. Factor One: Recommendation of Appropriate State Licensing Board
    Although the recommendation of the applicable state licensing board 
is probative to this factor, the Agency possesses ``a separate 
oversight responsibility with respect to the handling of controlled 
substances'' and therefore must make an ``independent

[[Page 62692]]

determination as to whether the granting of [a registration] would be 
in the public interest.'' Mortimer B. Levin, D.O., 55 FR 8,209, 8,210 
(DEA 1990); see also Jayam Krishna-Iyer,M.D., 74 FR 459, 461 (DEA 
2009). The ultimate responsibility to determine whether a registration 
is consistent with the public interest has been delegated exclusively 
to the DEA, not to entities within state government. Edmund Chein, 
M.D., 72 FR 6,580, 6,590 (DEA 2007), aff'd, Chein v. DEA, 533 F.3d 828 
(D.C. Cir. 2008). So while not dispositive, state board recommendations 
are relevant on the issue of revoking or maintaining a DEA 
registration. See Gregory D. Owens, D.D.S., 74 FR 36,751, 36,755 (DEA 
2009); Martha Hernandez, M.D., 62 FR 61,145, 61,147 (DEA 1997).
    In this case, the DBC has not made a specific recommendation 
concerning the granting of a DEA registration to the Respondent. The 
DBC has reinstated Respondent's dental license, subject to a series of 
probationary conditions. [Govt. Exh. 7, 8; Tr. 330-331]. Thus, Dr. 
Medinnus currently possesses an active dental license in the state of 
California. [Id.]. Nevertheless, the Agency has consistently held that 
a practitioner's possession of state authority, while a prerequisite to 
seeking a registration, is not dispositive of the public interest 
determination. Mark De La Lama, P.A., 76 FR 20,011, 20,018 (DEA 2011). 
Therefore, I find that this factor does not weigh in favor or against 
the granting of Respondent's application for a DEA Certificate of 
Registration.
2. Factor Three: Applicant's Conviction Record Relating to Controlled 
Substances
    The record contains evidence that the Respondent has been convicted 
of an offense related to the manufacture, distribution or dispensing of 
controlled substances, namely his 2003 felony conviction for violating 
Cal. Health & Safety Code Sec.  11173(a) (West 2012) for obtaining 
controlled substances by fraud. [Resp. Exh. 3]. Thus, I find that this 
factor weighs against the granting of Respondent's application for a 
DEA Certificate of Registration. Scott H. Nearing, 70 FR 33,200, 33,202 
(DEA 2005).
3. Factor Five: Such Other Conduct Which May Threaten the Public Health 
and Safety
    The Agency has long held that a practitioner's self-abuse of 
controlled substances constitutes ``conduct which may threaten public 
health and safety.'' 21 U.S.C. 823(f)(5) (2006); see also Tony T. Bui, 
M.D., 75 FR 49,979, 49,990 (DEA 2010); Kenneth Wayne Green, Jr., M.D., 
59 FR 51,453 (DEA 1994); David E. Trawick, D.D.S., 53 FR 5,326 (DEA 
1988). Here, the Respondent self-abused and diverted to his family 
members significant quantities of hydrocodone, lorazepam, and diazepam 
from approximately January 2000 through November 2001. [Govt. Exhs. 5, 
6, and 7]. Such unlawful ingestion and diversion of controlled 
substances clearly places the public health and safety in jeopardy. 
This unlawful conduct led to the surrender of Respondent's California 
dental license and initial DEA registration.
    Yet, I find that the Respondent has successfully addressed his 
addiction problem and returned to the practice of dentistry by 
regaining his dental license in 2007. At the hearing, Dr. Medinnus 
proffered substantial and detailed evidence regarding his impressive 
recovery program, including numerous negative drug screens he has taken 
over the past nine years. [Resp. Brief at 2-7, 9-10]. As the Deputy 
Administrator has previously determined, ``[t]he paramount issue is not 
how much time has elapsed since [the Respondent's] unlawful conduct, 
but rather, whether during that time [the] Respondent has learned from 
past mistakes and has demonstrated that he would handle controlled 
substances properly if entrusted with a DEA registration.'' Leonardo V. 
Lopez, M.D., 54 FR 36,915 (DEA 1989). Even though it has been 
previously found that time, alone, is not dispositive in such 
situations, it is certainly an appropriate factor to be considered. See 
Robert G. Hallermeier, M.D., 62 FR 26,818 (DEA 1997) (four years); John 
Porter Richards, D.O., 61 FR 13,878 (DEA 1996) (ten years); Norman 
Alpert, M.D., 58 FR 67,420, 67,421 (DEA 1993) (seven years). In this 
case, Respondent has conclusively demonstrated his strong recovery from 
his previous addiction and his successful maintenance of his sobriety 
for the past nine years. Therefore, I find that Respondent's history of 
substance abuse does not weigh against the granting of Respondent's 
application for a DEA Certificate of Registration.
4. Factors Two and Four: Applicant's Experience With Controlled 
Substances and Compliance With Applicable State, Federal, or Local Laws 
Relating To Controlled Substances
    Under the Controlled Substances Act (``CSA'' or ``the Act'') and 
Agency regulations, it is fundamental that a practitioner who directly 
dispenses controlled substances maintain an effective recordkeeping 
system. This includes maintaining inventories and other records 
pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 827(a) (2006). They are also required to hold a 
DEA registration at any location where they dispense controlled 
substances, see 21 CFR 1301.12 (2012), and to store controlled 
substances ``in a securely locked, substantially constructed cabinet,'' 
id. Sec.  1301.75. Lastly, practitioners who provide controlled 
substances directly to patients must maintain written records of such 
dispensing covering a minimum of two years; take an initial inventory 
of all controlled substances on hand and biennial inventories 
thereafter; and maintain records of receipts, dispensings, and 
transfers of controlled substances. See id. Sec. Sec.  1304.03(b), 
1304.04, 1304.11, 1304.21, 1304.22(c); see also Shawn M. Gallegos, 
D.D.S., 76 FR 66,986 (DEA 2011).
    The Government brought three primary allegations to support the 
denial of Respondent's application, the unauthorized purchase order for 
the controlled substances, Respondent's failure to abide by RVIHC's 
storing and dispensing policies for controlled substances, and his 
failure to maintain the required dispensing log for the hydrocodone 
pursuant to his DBC probation. I decline to credit the Government's 
first two allegations although I find that the Government has met its 
burden of proof concerning Respondent's failure to maintain the 
required dispensing log pursuant to his DBC probation and Agency 
regulations.
    First, with regards to the unauthorized purchase allegation, I find 
that the Government has not sustained its burden of proof. The 
testimony and evidence elicited at the hearing regarding this purchase 
order does not support the Government's claim that Respondent was 
unauthorized to place the order. Dr. Medinnus credibily maintained that 
Ms. Stillwell told him that Mr. Russ approved the order. [Tr. 158; 
Resp. Exh. A140; Resp. Brief at 28-31]. As explained above, I decline 
to credit much of Ms. Stillwell's testimony on her conversation with 
Mr. Russ regarding this order. Furthermore, I also note that Mr. Russ 
failed to recall many of the details surrounding this particular order 
including any conversation he had with Ms. Stillwell prior to the 
submission of the order to Ms. Scribner. Thus, the evidence in the 
record does not support a conclusion by a preponderance of the evidence 
that Dr. Medinnus was responsible for knowingly submitting an 
unauthorized purchase order for controlled substances. More tellingly, 
the submission of the purchase order on behalf of the dental department 
and its subsequent approval by Jan Scribner, a duly authorized RVIHC 
representative

[[Page 62693]]

who had the power to approve such orders, appears to belie any 
contention that the order itself was unauthorized by RVIHC management. 
While it is likely that RVIHC management, including Mr. Russ and Ms. 
Lohne, failed to remember that Dr. Medinnus had obtained a bottle of 
hydrocodone for emergency use, I conclude that the record does not show 
that the placement of the November 29, 2010 purchase order was 
unauthorized.
    And as the Respondent persuasively argues, if Dr. Medinnus 
reasonably believed the purchase order was duly approved, the 
Government's allegation that he failed to abide by RVIHC policies 
regarding the storage and dispensing of controlled substances, also 
fails. [Resp. Brief at 20-21]. While the Government has elicited 
substantial testimony and evidence regarding RVIHC's policies and 
procedures related to dispensing controlled substances, it has failed 
to link these policies to any deliberate or knowing attempt on behalf 
of the Respondent to violate them. [Govt. Brief at 21-22]. Indeed, when 
Mr. Russ confronted Dr. Medinnus regarding the bottle of hydrocdone, 
Respondent promptly admitted to ordering and storing the controlled 
substances and pointed to the approval of the purchase order as 
justification for his conduct. [Tr. 63]. Such a response supports 
Respondent's consistent position that he honestly and reasonably 
believed he possessed the necessary authority to store and dispense 
controlled substances in the dental department. Therefore, I decline to 
credit the Government's allegation that Respondent violated RVIHC's 
policies on the storage and dispensing of controlled substances.
    Both parties however, do acknowledge that Dr. Medinnus failed to 
maintain the required dispensing log for these controlled substances. 
[Resp. Brief at 7-8; Govt. Brief at 20]. In addition, I find that Dr. 
Medinnus failed to properly chart each dispensing of hydrocodone he 
gave to a patient, most notably with regards to his dispensing to 
``JC'', which represents another serious violation of Agency 
recordkeeping regulations. Nor was Respondent's clumsy attempt to 
reconstruct a dispensing log and alteration of patient charts 
consistent with a registrant's duty to maintain complete and accurate 
records regarding controlled substances. Therefore, I find that 
Respondent committed several serious violations of the Act's 
recordkeeping requirement, Agency regulations, as well as the terms of 
his DBC probation. Thus, in light of Respondent's serious and 
undisputed violations of the CSA's recordkeeping requirements and his 
DBC probation, I conclude that the Government has presented a prima 
facie case that supports the denial of Respondent's application.
    After the Government ``has proved that a registrant has committed 
acts inconsistent with the public interest, a registrant must `present 
sufficient mitigating evidence to assure the Administrator that [he] 
can be entrusted with the responsibility carried by such a 
registration.' '' Medicine Shoppe--Jonesborough, 73 FR 364, 387 (DEA 
2008) (quoting Samuel S. Jackson, D.D.S., 72 FR 23,848, 23,853 (DEA 
2007). ``Moreover, because `past performance is the best predictor of 
future performance,' Alra Labs., Inc. v. DEA, 54 F.3d 450, 452 (7th 
Cir. 1995), ``[DEA] has repeatedly held that where a registrant has 
committed acts inconsistent with the public interest, the registrant 
must accept responsibility for his actions and demonstrate that he will 
not engage in future misconduct.'' Medicine Shoppe--Jonesborough, 73 FR 
at 387; see also Samuel S. Jackson, D.D.S., 72 FR 23, 848, 23,853 (DEA 
2007); Hoxie v. DEA, 419 F.3d 477, 483 (6th Cir. 2005) (``admitting 
fault'' is ``properly consider[ed]'' by DEA to be an ``important 
factor[]'' in the public interest determination).
    Here, I find that Respondent has both taken responsibility for his 
actions and shown remorse for his conduct. During his testimony, Dr. 
Medinnus repeatedly demonstrated remorse for his conduct at the RVIHC. 
He also testified credibly and candidly about the circumstances 
surrounding the misconduct, including the various personal and 
professional challenges he faced during his employment at RVIHC.
    The Government argues that the Respondent attempted to ``minimize'' 
his misconduct by testifying that he could only not account for forty 
dosage units of the hydrocodone. [Govt. Brief at 22]. I disagree. 
Instead, I find that while this evidence, along with the evidence 
regarding the circumstances surrounding Respondent's employment at 
RVIHC does not excuse Respondent's conduct, it does provide appropriate 
mitigating factors for this Court and the Deputy Administrator to 
consider. See Martha Hernandez, M.D., 62 FR 61,145 (DEA 1997) (holding 
that, in exercising his discretion in determining the appropriate 
remedy, the Administrator should consider all of the facts and 
circumstances of a particular case).
    In light of the substantial evidence that Respondent proffered 
regarding his acceptance of responsibility for the misconduct, I find 
that the Government's proposed sanction, the denial of Respondent's 
application, is too severe. As this Agency has repeatedly held, a 
proceeding under the Act `` `is a remedial measure, based upon the 
public interest and the necessity to protect the public from those 
individuals who have misused . . . their DEA Certificate of 
Registration, and who have not presented sufficient mitigating evidence 
to assure the Administrator that they can be entrusted with the 
responsibility carried by such a registration.' '' Jon Karl Dively, 
D.D.S., 72 FR 74,332, 74,334 (DEA 2007) (quoting Samuel S. Jackson, 
D.D.S., 72 FR 23,848, 23,853 (DEA 2007)). Despite the Government's 
strenuous arguments to the contrary, I find that Dr. Medinnus' 
restricted registration does not represent a danger to the public 
interest. Indeed, Dr. Medinnus has sensibly requested the issuance of a 
restricted registration, which would ensure that he avoid any repeat of 
the recordkeeping violations he committed while at RVIHC. While his 
misconduct was indeed serious, Dr. Medinnus has now demonstrated that 
he understands the responsibilities and requirements of a DEA 
registrant.

V. Conclusion and Recommendation

    Therefore, I conclude that the DEA has met its burden of proof and 
has established that grounds exist for denying the Respondent's 
application for a DEA Certificate of Registration. I do not condone nor 
minimize the seriousness of the Respondent's misconduct. However, based 
on this record, I recommend that the Respondent be afforded an 
opportunity to demonstrate that he can again responsibly handle 
controlled substance prescriptions by the granting of a restricted 
registration. See Cecil E. Oakes, Jr., M.D., 63 FR 11,907, 11,910 (DEA 
1998) (``Such a resolution will provide Respondent with the opportunity 
to demonstrate that he can responsibly handle controlled substances, 
while at the same time protect the public health and safety, by 
providing a mechanism for rapid detection of any improper activity.''). 
The Agency has previously held that ``such restrictions must be related 
to what the Government has alleged and proved in any case.'' Janet L. 
Thornton, D.O., 73 FR 50,354, 50,356 (DEA 2008).
    Consistently, I suggest that the conditions in this case be 
tailored to ensure that the Respondent does not personally handle or 
dispense controlled substances. Thus, they should include: That the 
registration restricts his handling of controlled substances to merely 
prescribing and not storing, administering or dispensing

[[Page 62694]]

such drugs and that he be prohibited from prescribing controlled 
substances to himself or any family member. Further, I recommend that 
the Respondent be ordered to comply with the terms of his DBC probation 
and promptly notify the DEA if the DBC takes any action against his 
dental license. Lastly, I recommend that he maintain and provide 
quarterly prescription logs for all controlled substances prescriptions 
he authorizes to the local DEA office for monitoring. I recommend these 
restrictions apply for three years from the date of the final order so 
directing this result. In this way, the Respondent may safely continue 
his return to the full practice of dentistry, and the DEA can assure 
itself of the Respondent's compliance with DEA regulations as well as 
the protection of the public interest.

    Dated: October 17, 2012.

Gail A. Randall,
Administrative Law Judge.

[FR Doc. 2013-24697 Filed 10-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-09-P