A Tennessee physician retired her medical license in September amid a case involving a $300,000 loan from a patient who she subsequently diagnosed with dementia, The Tennessean reported, citing state discipline records.
In a case brought before the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, state attorneys alleged Suellen Lee, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Middleton Medical in Columbia, Tenn., borrowed $300,000 from a patient identified as E.W., according to the report. After the patient asked Dr. Lee for repayment, she allegedly diagnosed the patient with dementia in what state attorneys identified as an attempt to escape the loan.
The patient, who was also a friend and co-worker of Dr. Lee, reportedly was unable to access her assets after her financial company learned of the dementia diagnosis. Dr. Lee told investigators she made the dementia diagnosis solely "on observation" and did not conduct diagnostic tests, according to The Tennessean. A psychologist later examined the patient and ruled she did not have dementia.
Dr. Lee still stands behind her diagnosis and told the publication the state made it look like she was trying to escape the loan, but she has been repaying the patient in installments over about 20 years.
As part of an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Health and the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, Dr. Lee agreed to retire and pay a $2,000 fine.
But Dr. Lee told The Tennessean she was "set up" by the patient, and she only made the agreement with the state after attorneys told her she was facing a case she couldn't win.
"It was all lies, and I was told that if I fought it would be extremely costly to me," Dr. Lee said. "And there would still be no benefit. There was no chance of reversal."
Access The Tennessean's full report here.
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