Psychiatrist Gregory Villabona License at Risk

Psychiatrist Gregory Villabona license at risk of being revoked for allegedly prescribing controlled substances to an addict who later died by heroin overdose, trading medical treatment for guns and therefore is "unable to practice medicine safely, professionally or ethically." 

 

Villabona prescribed oxycodone to one patient, even after law enforcement officials told him that the patient was receiving narcotics from multiple healthcare providers and was court-ordered to participate in a substance abuse treatment program. The patient died of a heroin overdose months later.

 

Six other patients received pain medication without regular monitoring, treatment plans or record keeping, the complaint said. The state also said that Villabona is not complying with previous medical board orders and that he gave a handgun and switchblade to a patient, ingested that patient's prescribed stimulants and has "bartered" medical services for guns and yard work.   

 

Villabona has been on and off probation since 2003 stemming from sexual offenses with two minors in Maryland and consensual sex with a former adult patient that "exploited the doctor-patient privilege," along with probation violations.

 

Two witnesses were called, including one of Villabona's former office workers. The former employee described situations in which patients allegedly traded guns for treatment.She also said that Villabona told her that "certain patients would do just about anything for a little bit of money." The man, who said it was difficult to testify against his friend, also said Villabona gave him cash on several occasions in exchange for pills the doctor prescribed. Even when he stopped taking the pills, he continued to fill prescriptions from Villabona, the man said. 

 

The Attorney General's Office asked Secretary of State Jeff Bullock to order the emergency suspension of Villabona's controlled substances registration in March based on the "imminent danger he poses to public health." Villabona license has been on and off probation for 15 years.

 

Christina Jedra "'Egregious misconduct' could cost Dover psychiatrist Villabona his license", The News Journal, 29 May 2018,

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2018/05/29/egregious-misconduct-could-cost-dover-psychiatrist-his-licenses/644718002/