State health officials immediately suspended the license of a Clark County surgeon after he tested positive for controlled and illicit substances.
The state Department of Health’s Medical Quality Assurance Commission announced Wednesday it had suspended the license of Dr. Robert Slater, alleging he is unsafe to practice medicine.
The state’s report does not indicate Slater’s current employer, but PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center spokesman Randy Querin said Slater was employed with PeaceHealth.
Slater, 44, is not currently employed by PeaceHealth, but Querin said he could provide no further information regarding Slater’s employment.
The suspension came after Slater’s employer reported on June 16 that Slater exhibited signs of impairment and refused to submit to a urinalysis, according to state health department documents.
Ultimately, he submitted to a screening, which came back positive for controlled and illicit substances, according to the state heath department. Health officials would not disclose the substances for which he tested positive.
“We’re trying to be transparent with the public while also protecting his medical privacy,” said Rick Glein, director of legal services for the medical commission.
Slater received his license in Washington in August 2011 and does not have any previous disciplinary action in the state. But the medical commission currently has three open complaints against Slater, all filed in 2017, Glein said.
State health department documents show that Slater entered into a one-year agreement with the Washington Physicians Health Program on Aug. 8, 2016. The program’s mission, according to its website, is to “facilitate the rehabilitation of health care practitioners who have physical or mental conditions that could compromise public safety and to monitor their recovery.”
Physicians may be directed to the program by an employer or following involvement with law enforcement — such as being cited for driving under the influence of intoxicants — or they may voluntarily go into the program, Glein said.
Prior to the one-year agreement, Slater had voluntarily gone to the program, Glein said.
In July 2017, the program tried to contact Slater regarding his toxicology results and was unable to reach him. On July 31, the program told the medical commission it was unable to endorse Slater’s ability to practice medicine with “reasonable skill and safety to patients,” according to health department records.
Following that, Glein said the medical commission launched its own investigation and, on Jan. 10, summarily suspended Slater’s license.
“Taking summary action is pretty serious, and we want to make sure we have evidence to do so,” Glein said.
Slater has 20 days to respond to the charges and cannot practice until the charges are resolved.
