The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has immediately suspended the registered nurse license of Gary Lee King, R.N., based on his controlled substance-related convictions in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, Macomb County, Michigan.

On Oct. 8, 2008, King, 41, was convicted of one count of controlled substance use, one count of larceny by conversion - less than $200,000.00, and one count of nursing home - abuse of a patient, all misdemeanors. As a result, King was sentenced to incarceration for 365 days (suspended), placed on probation for 12 months with terms and ordered to pay fines and costs in the amount of $1,870.00. The convictions were based on King diverting morphine from his employer, Riverview of Ann Arbor, for personal use and tampering with patient morphine vials. King failed to report his convictions to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

On March 10, 2009, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending King's license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional upon the conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years, or a misdemeanor involving the illegal delivery, possession or use of a controlled substance. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of King's license to practice as a registered nurse.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Licensing.