At its meeting on June 11, 2016, the Board of Directors of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) considered the following licensure compliance matters not related to the AAOS Standards of Professionalism and took the actions indicated.

Jack Akmakjian, MD
Riverside, Calif.
AAOS Fellowship Suspended
In September 2015, the Medical Board of California entered a Stipulated Settlement and Disciplinary Order that revoked Dr. Akmakjian's license to practice medicine. The revocation was stayed in favor of 2 years' probation. Dr. Akmakjian maintains an active license to practice medicine, but the terms of his probation include practice monitoring with reports submitted quarterly to the Medical Board, and completion of a prescribing and medical records keeping course.

The action stemmed from charges against Dr. Akmakjian, including negligence for failing to recognize discrepancies in drug screening tests and continuing to prescribe medications to patients, prescribing drugs without an appropriate examination or medical indication, and failing to maintain adequate medical records.

The AAOS Board of Directors voted to suspend Dr. Akmakjian's Fellowship in AAOS until he holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine.

Darnell E. Blackmon, MD
Tulsa, Okla.
AAOS Fellowship Suspended
In October 2015, the Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma ratified an agreement entered into between Dr. Blackmon and the Oklahoma Medical Board of Licensure and Supervision (Medical Board) in which Dr. Blackmon's license to practice medicine was suspended for 20 days, and he was fined. Dr. Blackmon maintains an active license to practice medicine, but it is restricted to only supervising healthcare providers related solely to orthopaedic practice for 5 years, and he cannot dispense controlled dangerous substances for 5 years.

The action stemmed from a Medical Board investigation of a spa in which Dr. Blackmon was the medical director. The Medical Board found evidence that an unlicensed employee of the spa was performing hormone injection procedures and that medical documents with Dr. Blackmon's signature were forged by the staff. In a joint investigation with the Medical Board, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) found that an employee ordered testosterone and weight loss medications from an out-of-state pharmacy under Dr. Blackmon's DEA number and then dispensed the medications to patients. These acts were in violation of the law because the spa did not have a separate medical dispensing license.

The AAOS Board of Directors voted to suspend Dr. Blackmon's Fellowship in AAOS until he holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine.

Ronald L. Fraser, MD
Houston, Texas
AAOS Fellowship Suspended
In November 2015, the Texas Medical Board entered an Automatic Suspension Order that immediately suspended Dr. Fraser's license to practice medicine. The Texas Board found that Dr. Fraser violated the terms and conditions of his 2014 order by failing to abstain from prohibited substances when he tested positive for alcohol on four occasions.

The 2014 order stemmed from an investigation that found that Dr. Fraser prescribed controlled substances for two patients whom he knew were habitual users; he also prescribed controlled substances to himself for personal use. The 2014 order imposed restrictions on his medical license that included abstention from performing surgeries, prescribing controlled substances, and personal use of any prohibited substances, and required that chaperones be present during patient examinations.

The AAOS Board of Directors voted to suspend Dr. Fraser's Fellowship in AAOS until he holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine.

Timothy D. Jackson, MD
Gulfport, Miss.
Expelled
On Dec. 19, 2014, Dr. Jackson was convicted of four felony counts of tax evasion and one count of corrupt interference with tax laws. Dr. Jackson was sentenced to 75 months' imprisonment. The investigation by the Internal Revenue Service found that Dr. Jackson engaged in a tax-avoidance scheme promoted by a church and its senior minister. As part of the scheme, Dr. Jackson took a vow of poverty and transferred his assets and assigned future income to the church, then claimed exemption from federal income taxation. However, the court found that he retained his assets and received 90 percent of his income back from the church. He appealed his income tax conviction claiming deprivation of the right to counsel. The appeals court confirmed the conviction. Dr. Jackson does not hold an active medical license in Mississippi.

The AAOS Board of Directors voted to expel Dr. Jackson.

For more information on the AAOS Professional Compliance Program, visit www.aaos.org/profcomp