Local Physician Reprimanded

Last week, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice reprimanded a local doctor for engaging in sexual conduct with a patient.

On May 14, the board issued an order against Dr. James Robert Eelkema, a family physician who has practiced in Minnesota since 1981. Eelkema practices with Timewise Medical LTD. The clinic specializes in caring for people who are underinsured or lack health insurance completely.

According to the order, Eelkema had an illicit relationship with an unnamed patient he'd treated since 1997. The patient had a history of chronic back pain, hepatitis C,  mental health problems, and chemical dependency. Over the course of 10 years, Eelkema occasionally prescribed opiate pain medications for the patient, who suffered from various ills including disk disease and a wrist fracture, among others.

The infraction in question occurred on May 31, 2007, when Eelkema met the patient outside a clinical setting for a sexual encounter. The order states that on that day, Eelkema authorized a prescription for narcotics for the patient. He did not document the prescription in the clinic record.

On November 12, 2009, Eelkema faced the Complaint Review Committee. He acknowledged the misconduct. 

After over a year of negotiations, the board took disciplinary action, "conditioning and restricting Respondent's license to practice medicine and surgery in the State of Minnesota."

The order issued on May 14 requires Eelkema to pay $5,577.80 in civil penalties and places restrictions on his license for a year at a minimum. He will not be allowed to practice outside of settings approved by the board in advance. He is also required to take a professional boundaries course and meet with a representative from the board to review his progress each quarter.

Reinstatement is not automatic after 12 months have passed. Eelkema must petition for reinstatement of an unconditional license, said Ruth Martinez, a supervisor with the complaint review unit.

If he does not comply with the terms of the stipulation, he could face further disciplinary action, Martinez said, including revocation or suspension of his license. 

When contacted, Dr. Eelkema declined to comment.