State revokes license of psychiatrist J. Frank James; disciplined earlier in North Carolina

November 13, 2012

On July 13, 2012, the Medical Board of California revoked the license of psychiatrist J. Frank James (aka James Franklin James).

The California Board issued an Accusation against James on January 23, 2012, based on disciplinary action taken against him by the licensing authority of another state.

According to the California Board’s document, between 2008 and 2011, James was the subject of a series of disciplinary actions issued by the North Carolina Medical Board. The basis of the actions was that over a period of years, James diverted and self-used controlled substances and other prescription drugs he’d prescribed for patients and family members.

On February 16, 2009, James surrendered his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number. In September 2011, the North Carolina Medical Board issued a Consent Order which included findings that James wrote prescriptions for controlled substances without a valid DEA registration and using preprinted prescriptions with his retired DEA number.

The North Carolina Board indefinitely suspended his license. James never responded to the California Board’s Accusation and thus, by default, the state revoked his license.