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Doctor suspended over alcohol use

By REBECCA CATALANELLO
Published May 31, 2006

BRANDON - A Brandon pediatrician has been suspended after state officials said chronic alcohol use severely compromised his work.

Richard M. Cohen, 45, has sought treatment for alcohol abuse more than once since 1999. He has been arrested twice on charges of driving while intoxicated. And he has recently refused inpatient substance abuse treatment, authorities said.

For those reasons alone, the Florida Health Department on Tuesday issued an emergency suspension of Cohen.

"Through his actions, Dr. Cohen has shown that he is unable to safely practice medicine at this time," Health Secretary M. Rony Francois said. "His inability to practice with the necessary skill due to his impairment causes him to be an immediate and serious danger to Florida's residents and visitors."

Cohen, whose practice is at 302 Bryan Road Suite 1, described himself Tuesday night as a recovering alcoholic.

Cohen said Dr. Robert Friedmeyer, with whom he has been working two to three years, will take over his practice while he complies with the suspension and awaits a hearing before the Board of Medicine.

Arrest records show that Cohen's blood-alcohol content was 0.348 percent when he was pulled over and charged in September with driving under the influence. Under Florida law, drivers are presumed impaired at 0.08 percent.

Cohen said he spent 3½ months in inpatient treatment following the arrest and elected to leave in January.

"It was not for relapse," Cohen said. "It was for other reasons."

At the time of that arrest, Cohen listed his address as 1804 Chapel Tree Circle No. C in Brandon.

In a press statement, Francois said Cohen, "has had multiple admissions into substance abuse programs and has had subsequent relapses. Cohen currently refuses to complete an inpatient substance abuse treatment program."

The emergency suspension means Cohen will be prohibited from practicing in Florida until the state Board of Medicine takes final action.

Cohen said he doesn't know yet whether he plans to practice again. "I'm honest enough to allow others to make that decision for me," he said.

Times researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report.

[Last modified May 31, 2006, 05:26:24]