Iowa psychiatrist J. Patrick Bertroche Surrenders His Medical License

September 25, 2018

A Des Moines psychiatrist has surrendered his medical license and is retiring, state regulators said.

J. Patrick Bertroche, 51, turned in his license this month, the Iowa Board of Medicine reported. The board, which regulates physicians, said the action came after the agency “received information which indicates (Bertroche) suffers from a health condition which impairs his ability to practice medicine.”

Bertroche paid a $5,000 fine to the state board last year, after regulators said he inappropriately pre-signed blank prescription orders for his staff to fill out later. Besides paying the fine, he agreed to attend a medical-ethics course.

At the time, the psychiatrist told the Register he hadn’t realized his use of pre-signed prescription orders violated regulations. “The health and well-being of my patients is my greatest priority, and I remain deeply committed to providing an exceptional level of care and attention," he said then. He did not respond to a request for comment this week about his retirement.

Bertroche unsuccessfully ran for Congress in the 2010 Republican primary.

Source: "Des Moines psychiatrist who ran for Congress surrenders his medical license and retires," Des Moines Register, September 21, 2018, URL: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2018/09/21/des-moines-psychiatrist-patrick-bertroche-surrenders-medical-license-iowa-board-medicine-congress/1380888002/