Ryan Longenecker

The Discipline Committee determined the penalty for a member found to have committed professional misconduct by advising a patient to stop thyroid medication and falsely claiming acupuncture could regrow the thyroid gland, leading to the patient's hospitalization.

The College sought revocation, arguing the member was ungovernable due to his failure to participate in the hearing and his relocation to Korea.

The Committee found the member was not ungovernable, noting his prior expressions of remorse and lack of discipline history.

The Committee ordered a 12-month suspension, a reprimand, remedial terms including the PROBE program, and costs of $29,818.45.

The College alleged that the respondent acupuncturist engaged in professional misconduct by advising a patient without a thyroid to stop taking his thyroid medication, claiming that acupuncture would regrow the gland.

The patient suffered severe hypothyroidism and was hospitalized.

The Discipline Committee proceeded in the respondent's absence and found that he provided unnecessary and dangerous treatment outside his scope of practice, failed to refer the patient to a medical doctor, and falsified patient records to conceal his actions.

The Committee concluded that the respondent engaged in professional misconduct.