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Wednesday, November 15, 2000
License restrictions
against Gale lifted
JEFF HANSEL, Bismarck Tribune
A Bismarck podiatrist has completed additional training required by the North Dakota Board of Podiatric Medicine in order to get restrictions removed from his license, but the board is pursuing further complaints.
Dr. Brian Gale's license to provide medical care of the foot and ankle was revoked in February and the board suspended the revocation, giving Gale a five-year probationary period. Gale appealed the board's discipline, saying board members were biased and they and board president Dr. Aaron Olson -- his former employer -- were simply trying to run him out of town to decrease competition for Olson, who also practices in Bismarck.
"As of Sunday, I completed the training," Gale said. He said it normally takes 20 hours of continuing education each year to maintain a license in podiatry. But Gale has completed 166 hours of training since the board's decision in February, he said. On Tuesday, Gale said "I got a letter yesterday that the board was removing the restrictions."
The board will meet today in Bismarck to discuss the lifting of restrictions and additional complaints filed since February, according to Gary Thune, lawyer for the
podiatry board.
He said both Medcenter One and St. Alexius Medical Center were notified Monday that the restrictions on Gale's surgical license were lifted.
Meanwhile, Werner Strupp, the National American
Podiatric Medical Association's legal counsel, said an investigation continues into the North Dakota board's actions.
"Dr. Gale requested a Board of Inquiry and the
association granted the request," he said.
In June, Strupp said the most severe action a board of inquiry can take is to expel someone from association membership. Podiatrists are not required to be members of the association to practice.
Tuesday, Strupp said he's not sure how long the
investigation will take.
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