Dr. Mitchell’s office closed again

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com
 
The office of Dr. Roderick Mitchell in Daingerfield was open briefly during the third week in January and is now closed again. 
Dr. Mitchell, whose medical license was revoked Nov. 30, opened his office doors again on Jan.  23. The Texas Medical Board had revoked his license citing Dr. Mitchell failed to meet the standard of care and did not maintain adequate medical records.
When his office re-opened, Dr. Mitchell said his attorney asked on Jan. 18 for a hearing, and the Texas Medical Board said no.
“Then my attorney filed the paperwork about 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 for me to go back to work,” he said. “Due to the fact the board did not do the due process issue properly or notify me, I can go back to work.
“The decision will be made, and in the meantime I can work”
Dr. Mitchell said the case will be referred to a district judge, and the doctor does not know the timeline.
A call to the doctor’s office on Jan. 29 revealed the office was again closing and office staff were notifying all patients with appointments.
Leigh Hopper, public information officer of the Texas Medical Board said Dr. Mitchell’s license was revoked.
“He filed a motion for rehearing and the way it works, you don’t get to file that motion and keep practicing; he is still revoked,” Ms. Hopper said. “I understand he may have gotten advice from someone that while there is anything in the legal system that he can practice, but from our perspective, that is not true. He may have had an informal opinion, and he followed that advice.
“If he has any remedy, it is not with us, it is with the Travis County District Court.”
Pharmacists who asked not to be quoted said the Texas Medical Board web page showed Dr. Mitchell was active and then showed he was not. They said the medical board was not consistent with their answers, and that the web site was not clear. A pharmacist also stated it is the government, so they are slow to update information.
Dr. Mitchell was contacted and said he had no comment. Phone calls to his attorney Joe Willie of Houston were not returned.