State of Washington denies license to psychiatrist Ishmeal Major; lost license in Florida for prescribing violations

November 4, 2010

On February 24, 2010, the State of Washington Department of Health Medical Quality Assurance Commission issued a Notice of Decision on Application to psychiatrist Ishmeal Major, denying his application for licensure to practice medicine in the state of Washington. 

The bases of the Commission’s decision was (1) Major relinquished his license to practice medicine in the state of Florida on December 18, 2007 and (2) Major’s application for licensure in the state of Washington was denied.  

According to the Florida Board of Medicine meeting minutes of November 30-December 1, 2007, the Board accepted Major’s voluntary relinquishment of his license in response to allegations that he had prescribed, dispensed or administered medicinal drug(s) to himself.  

On February 22, 2010 the South Carolina State Board of Medical Examiners issued a Final Order publicly reprimanding Major.  South Carolina’s document states that the investigation against Major began when the New York State Education Department Office of the Professional Discipline had alerted the Florida Department of Health, alleging that Major had improperly issued a prescription for the sleep drug Sonata via the Internet.  The document further states that Major notified the South Carolina Board that he had had a six-month relationship with the website US-Meds.com, during which time he actively prescribed drugs via the Internet without conducting examinations or the other responsibilities of the doctor-patient relationship (which constitute the standard of care). 

In addition to the reprimand, he was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and administrative costs of $500.  

Source: Notice of Decision on Application, Re: Application No. 2009-141180, State of Washington Department of Health, February 24, 2010; Final Order in the Matter of Ishmeal Major, M.D., License #MD 22550, OIE# 2008-20, South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation andMeeting minutes of the Florida Board of Medicine, November 30-December 1, 2007.