Psychiatrist Edwin B. Hall Surrenders License; 6 Patients Died from Overdose

April 4, 2018

On April 2, 2018, Edwin Bacon Hall, a psychiatrist who practiced in Albuquerque, surrendered his medical license to the New Mexico Medical Board. 

The Board's document states that Hall first came under investigation in May 2016 and that after that date, the Board opened additional investigations into Hall and his practice. Hall agreed to surrender his license to settle the Board's allegations and investigation.

According to the Board's document, Hall prescribed controlled substance medications and combinations of medications in a manner that poses a threat to the health of his minor and adult patients. The Board noted that six of his adult patients died as a result of an overdose.

Further, Hall failed to effectively screen, evaluate, assess and monitor patients to whom controlled substances had been prescribed. It found that his medical records provided inadequate documentation and showed evidence of 'cloning,' (i.e. copying and pasting entries from record to record). The Board found that the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy identified Hall as a "high risk prescriber" who did not access the prescription monitoring (PMP) database, as required,

Lastly, from at least fall 2013 until October 2017, Hall allowed an unlicensed psychiatrist named John Connell to treat patients in his practice and billed Medicaid for those services as if he'd delivered them. The state of Georgia revoked Connell's medical license in February 2008 for engaging in a sexual relationship with a female patient. Based on this revocation, Connell surrendered his New York medical license in July 2008. 

Source: Agreed Order for Voluntary Surrender of License While Under Investigation in the Matter of Edwin B. Hall, License No. 75-161, Case Nos 2017-036 and 2018-005, New Mexico Medical Board, April 2, 2018 and Surrender Order in the Matter of John Alexander Connell, M.D., BPMC No. #08-121, State of New York Department of Health, July 8, 2008.