Florida medical board suspends psychiatrist Evan Zimmer for substance abuse issues

September 12, 2011

On our about August 19, 2011, the Florida Department of Health (DoH) suspended the license of psychiatrist Evan Zimmer on an emergency basis, citing Zimmer’s “significant history of substance abuse” and “inability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety,” rendering him “an immediate and serious danger to the citizens of the State of Florida.”

Zimmer is board certified in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. The Department’s document states that from January through April, the DoH received several anonymous complaints that Zimmer was “possibly under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and may be practicing as an impair physician.” Additionally, on May 27, Zimmer told the DoH that he had entered a plea of no contest this past November to one count of “committing or attempting to engage in prostitution” (soliciting a prostitute).

At a court hearing, the judge thought that Zimmer was severely impaired and ordered a drug test, which revealed that Zimmer was on several prescription drugs, including a benzodiazepine (a tranquilizer such as Ambien or Xanax) and ordered him jailed for contempt of court. He was jailed for about a month.

The state Board of Medicine revoked Zimmer’s license in 1986, after he was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. Investigators found he’d prescribed controlled substances to patients in absence of documentation of a medical necessity for such drugs.

Source: John Dorschner, “Miami psychiatrist’s license suspended for drug use, prostitution charge,” Miami Herald, August 19, 2011.