LAMESA and AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Medical Board immediately suspended “without notice” a doctor’s license after he was arrested and accused of public intoxication.
The TMB believed that the continued practice of medicine by Rafael Fermin Garcia, M.D. “poses a continuing threat to public welfare.”
“The Board panel found that on January 5, 2020, Dr. Garcia was arrested by the Lamesa Police Department in the Medical Arts Emergency Room in Lamesa, Texas for Public Intoxication,” the TMB said.
However, Medical Arts wanted to make clear that Garcia was not on duty at the time of his arrest.
The TMB said a hearing will be held as soon as possible for Dr. Garcia, 53, of Corpus Christi, but his license remains suspended until the board takes further action.
In 2010, Dr. Garcia asked that the 2001 ten-year probation of his license be ended early because “He had been sober for nine years.” The TMB agreed.
The following is a statement from TMB:
In February 12, 2020, a disciplinary panel of the Texas Medical Board temporarily suspended, without notice, the Texas medical license of Rafael Fermin Garcia, M.D. (Lic. No. J3700), after determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare. The suspension was effective immediately.
The Board panel found that on January 5, 2020, Dr. Garcia was arrested by the Lamesa Police Department in the Medical Arts Emergency Room in Lamesa, Texas for Public Intoxication. Dr. Garcia was allegedly on call in the Emergency Room at the time of arrest.
A temporary suspension hearing with notice will be held as soon as practicable with 10 days’ notice to Dr. Garcia, unless the hearing is specifically waived by Dr. Garcia.
The temporary suspension remains in place until the Board takes further action.
