North Carolina Medical Board

  Eleanor E. Greene, MD: President | Timothy E. Lietz, MD: President-Elect | Barbara E. Walker, DO: Secretary/Treasurer

 
 

June 29, 2017

Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested

Virginia S. Roberts, M.D.

525 Elk Mountain Scenic Highway
Asheville, NC 28804

Dear Dr. Roberts:

The North Carolina Medical Board (“Board”) has concluded its investigation related to you issuing
prescriptions to yourself. It is the Board’s decision not to commence formal proceedings against your
inactive license at this time. However, the Board did vote to issue you this public letter of concern. The
Board does not consider a public letter of concern to be a disciplinary action.

The Board notes that you retired from the active practice of medicine in approximately 2000, but
continued to maintain an active license until January 2017. The Board is concerned that you issued 42
prescriptions to yourself from on or about November 2014 – October 2016. Two of these prescriptions
were for controlled substances, which is prohibited by Rule 21 NCAC 32B .1001. The Board believes
that, except for emergency conditions and acute minor illnesses, it is not appropriate for physicians to
write prescriptions for themselves or their family members. The Board’s Rule, 21 NCAC 32B .1001, and
Position Statement titled “Self-Treatment and Treatment of Family Members” are enclosed for your
review.

The Board notes that you inactivated your license in January 2017, and have no plans to return to the
practice of medicine. In the event that your license is reinstated and the conduct giving rise to the Board’s
concern happens again, the Board may vote to commence formal disciplinary proceedings against your
license. If that happens, this letter may be entered into evidence in determining the appropriate discipline.

This letter is a public record within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes
and is subject to public inspection and dissemination as required by that law. It will be reported to the
Federation of State Medical Boards; however, it will not be reported to the National Practitioner Data
Bank.

Sincerely,

Eleanor E. Greene, M.D.

President

EEG/PFB/lt

Enclosures

 
1203 Front Street, Raleigh, NC 27609 | P.O. BOX 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619
Tel: (919) 326-1100 | Fax: (919) 326-1131 | Email: info@ncmedboard.org | www.ncmedboard.org
 § 90-5.2. Board to collect and publish certain data.
(a) The Board shall require all physicians and physician assistants to report to the Board
certain information, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The names of any schools of medicine or osteopathy attended and the year of
graduation.
(2) Any graduate medical or osteopathic education at any institution approved by
the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education, the Committee for
the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, the American Osteopathic
Association, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
(3) Any specialty board of certification as approved by the American Board of
Medical Specialties, the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of American
Osteopathic Association, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Canada.
(4) Specialty area of practice.
(5) Hospital affiliations.
(6) Address and telephone number of the primary practice setting.
(7) A current, active e-mail address, which shall not be considered a public record
within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. This information
may be used or made available by the Board for the purpose of disseminating or
soliciting information affecting public health or the practice of medicine.
(8) Any final disciplinary order or other action required to be reported to the Board
pursuant to G.S. 90-14.13 that results in a suspension or revocation of
privileges.
(9) Any final disciplinary order or action of any regulatory board or agency
including other state medical boards, the United States Food and Drug
Administration, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Medicare,
or the North Carolina Medicaid program.
(10) Conviction of a felony.
(11) Conviction of certain misdemeanors, occurring within the last 10 years, in
accordance with rules adopted by the Board.
(12) Any medical license, active or inactive, granted by another state or country.
(13) Certain malpractice information received pursuant to G.S. 90-5.3, G.S. 90-
14.13, or from other sources in accordance with rules adopted by the Board.
(a1) The Board shall make e-mail addresses reported pursuant to G.S. 90-5.2(a)(7)
available to the Department of Health and Human Services for use in the North Carolina
Controlled Substance Reporting System established by Article 5E of this Chapter.
(b) Except as provided, the Board shall make information collected under G.S. 90-5.2(a)
available to the public.
(c) The Board may adopt rules to implement this section.
(d) Failure to provide information as required by this section and in accordance with
Board rules or knowingly providing false information may be considered unprofessional conduct
as defined in G.S. 90-14(a)(6). (2007-346, s. 6; 2009-217, s. 2; 2013-152, s. 5; 2016-117, ss.
2(e), (f).)

North Carolina Medical Board

1203 Front Street, Raleigh, NC 27609 | P.O. BOX 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619
Tel: (919) 326-1100 | Fax: (919) 326-1131 | Email: info@ncmedboard.org | www.ncmedboard.org