Pearland doctor's license suspended following investigation of alleged pill mill

Pearland family practice physician Dr. Akili Graham has had his license temporarily suspended without notice by the Texas Medical Board after they found that patients at Graham's pain management clinics were allegedly being prescribed controlled substances by unlicensed clinic employees without appropriate evaluation and treatment plans.

A DEA-investigation that lasted months and a disciplinary panel found that patients were being treated by unlicensed employees without supervision or consultation by Graham and prescribed controlled medications, including Lorcet and SOMA, according to the medical board report.

"Dr. Graham presents a continuing threat and real danger to his patients and the public," the board stated in a press release.

The panel also discovered that Graham failed to appear at an informal settlement conference to address the allegations on March 13.

Additionally, action was taken against Graham on May 16, 2011. The board temporarily suspended certificates for four Houston-area pain management clinics held by Graham after finding that the clinics were not owned by a physician, which is against the law, and felt their continued operation constituted continuing threat to the public health and welfare.

According to a complaint filed by the Texas Medical Board on Nov. 1, 2011, Graham "allowed foreign medical graduates practicing at his clinics to be referred to and introduced to patients as 'doctors,' and (Graham) referred to the foreign medical graduates as 'physicians assistants' because they were 'assisting him.'"

A temporary suspension hearing, with notice, will be held as soon as practicable with 10 days of notice to Graham, unless it is waived by Graham.