James Thomas Skeen was a medical doctor in Clemmons, NC who ran Integrative Life Solutions clinic. He advertised himself as a practitioner of “integrative medicine”, a marketing term typically used by quacks.
Skeen was disciplined multiple times for unprofessional conduct by the North Carolina Medical Board. Nevertheless, Skeen was still inexplicably allowed to practice medicine.
Board Action in 2010
In 2010, the North Carolina Medical Board (“the Board”) sent Skeen a Public Letter of Concern about his prescribing behavior:
The Board is concerned that you issued prescriptions for controlled substances to a family member without conducting an appropriate examination or maintaining proper medical records. The Board believes that issuing prescriptions without a documented complete examination and history is fraught with danger.
Additionally, the Board believes that the treatment of family members or others with whom you have a significant emotional relationship is usually inappropriate. Also, the Board is concerned that you rendered medical services to yourself.
Did that stop Skeen from prescribing inappropriately? Apparently not.
Board Action in 2015
According to the Board, law enforcement became aware that Skeen had self-prescribed medications, which resulted in further investigation in 2015.
What the Board found is appalling:
Dr. Skeen admitted to self-prescribing on two occasions, once in or about July 2014 and again in August 2015.
Three (3) medical records submitted to the Board were reviewed by an external expert reviewer. The expert reviewer found that the medical records failed to include subjective information, contained copy and paste type entries that were inaccurate, failed to include documentation of patients’ response to therapy and failed to include documentation of medication side effect discussions with patients.
The expert reviewer opined that Dr. Skeen’s medical records fell below the standard of care in North Carolina.
Instead of taking away Skeen’s license, the Board reached an agreement with him in which he would receive a reprimand and he would be required to attend a proctored medical records course.
According to the Consent Order between Skeen and the Board, Skeen acknowledged that his conduct constituted “unprofessional conduct, including, but not limited to, departure from, or the failure to conform to, the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice.”
Complaints in 2017
In 2018, Skeen reached another agreement with the Board in which he would receive probation and be required to be monitored.
The following is an excerpt from this agreement:
In 2017, the Board received complaints regarding Dr. Skeen and his practice of medicine.
As a result of this information coming to the Board’s attention, the Board investigated and obtained the medical records for seven (7) of Dr. Skeen’s patients who shall be referred to as Patients A-G. Dr. Skeen treated patients A-G from 2015 to 2017.
Medical Expert #1
The records of Patients A-G were sent to a physician who specializes in integrative medicine and who is qualified to testify as an independent medical expert with respect to Dr. Skeen’ s medical care. This expert shall be referred to as “Medical Expert #1.”
Medical Expert #1, in relevant part, provided an opinion that Dr. Skeen’s treatment of Patients A-F failed to conform to the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice in North Carolina. Specifically, Medical Expert #1 opined that Dr. Skeen practiced below the North Carolina standard of care in his treatment of Patients A-F in many respects including, and not limited to, the following:
1. Dr. Skeen’s medical record keeping was inadequate; and
2. Dr. Skeen inappropriately diagnosed and treated patients for Lyme disease without sufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of Lyme disease.
Medical Expert #2
The records of Patients A-D were sent to a second physician who specializes in the area of infectious disease and is qualified to testify as an independent medical expert with respect to Dr. Skeen’ s medical care. This expert shall be referred to as “Medical Expert #2.”
Medical Expert #2 provided an opinion that Dr. Skeen’ s treatment of Patients A-D failed to conform to the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice in North Carolina. Specifically, Medical Expert #2 opined that Dr. Skeen practiced below the North Carolina standard of care in his treatment of Patients A-D in many respects including, and not limited to, the following:
1. Dr. Skeen’s medical record keeping was inadequate;
2. Dr. Skeen inappropriately diagnosed and treated heavy metal toxicity without sufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of heavy metal toxicity;
3. Dr. Skeen inappropriately diagnosed and treated patients for Lyme disease without sufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of Lyme disease; and
4. Dr. Skeen appropriately diagnosed patients for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, but failed to treat them appropriately for such condition.
Conclusions of Law
Dr. Skeen’s care of Patients A through F as described above constitutes unprofessional conduct including, but not limited to, departure from or the failure to conform to, the standards of acceptable and prevailing medical practice within the meaning of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-14(a) (6), which is grounds for the Board to annul, suspend, revoke, condition or limit Dr. Skeen’s license to practice medicine and surgery issued by the Board.
Skeen died in 2019.
Resources
The News & Record: Doctor with Clemmons office now allowed to practice only if he has a monitor; investigation revealed inappropriate diagnoses, treatment
North Carolina Medical Board: Consent Order, 2018
North Carolina Medical Board: Consent Order, 2016
North Carolina Medical Board: Letter of Concern, 2010