INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Board of Pharmacy agreed to accept an agreement by Dr. Patrick Sheets on Monday to suspend his license to prescribe controlled substances.
Deputy attorney general Ryan Eldridge said during the monthly board meeting that officials with the Indiana Office of Attorney General had negotiated a voluntary summary suspension agreement with Sheets, a Rensselaer doctor currently under investigation for several allegations, including prescribing controlled substances to known addicts and patients without a patient visit or evaluation.
The agreement, Eldridge said, is for a 90-day summary suspension, which is the maximum allowed by Indiana law. Sheets did not appear in person to the hearing.
The facts Sheets acknowledged in the OAG’s agreement, Eldridge said, included admitting that he is actively under investigation by the attorney general for controlled substance prescribing and general medical practices.
The agreement also acknowledged that in June, the Jasper County Health Department issued a vacate order on Sheet’s main offices, at 123 S. McKinley Ave. in Rensselaer. The vacate order cited that at Sheets’ main offices there was no running water, no working sewage and no electricity, Eldridge said.
“According to (Sheets) and discussions, he is not currently practicing or prescribing controlled substances,” Eldridge said. “Pursuant to statute, summary suspension is appropriate, as under Indiana Code 35-48-3-3(g), a person must be maintaining a principal place of business in the state of Indiana to maintain a (Controlled Substances Registration), and (Sheets) does not maintain a principal place of business that is approved by the board at this time.”
Part of the agreement for a summary suspension of Sheets’ controlled substances registration, Eldridge said, included that Sheets did not admit guilt for the other accusations included in the OAG’s initial petition filed on July 3.
In the petition, the attorney general’s staff said it has received consumer complaints against Sheets between Dec. 31, 2023, and July 11, 2024, which prompted an investigation.
“The investigation uncovered that (Sheets’) actions represent a clear and immediate danger to the public’s health, safety, or property if allowed to continue to practice,” the petition said.
The FBI served a warrant alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration on June 17 at Sheets’ practice, 123 S. McKinley Ave. in Rensselaer. The FBI served a second warrant later that day at 529 Fleming Blvd., owned by Laurence Sheets, according to property records. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on whether the two searches were related.
The OAG said in the petition that based on information provided, Sheets allowed staff members of his practice to control and use his controlled substances fob, or access key, with “little to no oversight.” Sheets also allowed the fob to be placed in non-secure locations, the petition said, such as an unlocked mailbox outside of the office.
The OAG alleged that Sheets prescribed legend drugs and controlled substances to patients without a patient visit or evaluation. Sheets also reportedly prescribed Adderall for weight loss, as well as “addictive and dangerous drugs” to a known addict.
Sheets also engaged in romantic relationships with employees and patients, the petition said, while simultaneously prescribing controlled substances to those individuals.
The OAG said it also found reason to believe Sheets was not properly maintaining medical records.
“(Sheets) failed to secure patient health-care records and allowed them to be kept in an unlocked shed and other areas that made them susceptible to breach of confidentiality,” the petition said. “(Sheets) asked one or more prior employees to fabricate medical records for one or more patients.”
On March 6, CVS allegedly terminated Sheets’ ability to fill prescriptions for patients at any CVS pharmacy.
According to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, professionals whose licenses have been suspended cannot practice during the suspension. Eldridge declined to comment on next steps in the investigation.
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Indiana board suspends Rensselaer doctor’s license to prescribe controlled substances
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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