PDF: Notice of Dr. Pancake malpractice allegations
By Kelli Gauthier
Staff Writer
Local physician Dr. Bruce Pancake, who was found dead in his office early Sunday, was scheduled to appear Wednesday before the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners for a disciplinary hearing, officials said.
Dr. Pancake was to appear in Nashville on charges including gross malpractice and unprofessional, dishonorable or unethical conduct, according to documents from the Tennessee Department of Health.
The board, which evaluates the department of health charges and determines civil penalties, could have served Dr. Pancake with anything from an informal advisory notice to a permanent revocation of his Tennessee medical license, department spokeswoman Shelley Walker said.
"In a broad sense, that (license revocation) was one of the possibilities, but it would be impossible to speculate and say what he was looking at, necessarily," Ms. Walker said.
The medical board charges against Dr. Pancake stemmed from five separate cases in 2003, including a tonsillectomy on an 11-year-old and throat surgery on a 5-year-old, records show.
Dr. Pancake, an ear, nose and throat surgeon who had practiced medicine in Chattanooga and Hixson since 1987, was found dead Sunday morning at his business, the Phoenix Center Spa Medicus at 1736 Gunbarrel Road, police said.
Officials with the Hamilton County Medical examiner's office said an autopsy has been completed, and Dr. Pancake's death was not a homicide. An official cause of death will remain undetermined until toxicology results are complete, which could take several months, officials said.
Sgt. Jerri Weary, Chattanooga Police Department spokeswoman, said the case is under investigation and is considered "a death undetermined."
Ms. Walker said cases before the state board of medical examiners are handled differently than criminal proceedings, even though they are court hearings with lawyers present.
"The board has broad discretion to impose a variety of disciplinary actions as necessary," she said.
Dr. Pancake also faced possible monetary penalties, Ms. Walker said.
He is survived by his wife, Debbie, and four daughters. One of his daughters, Blaire, was crowned Miss Tennessee in 2006.
E-mail Kelli Gauthier at kgauthier@timesfreepress.com
