NICHOLS HILLS, OK -- News Channel 4 is taking a closer look at how Dr. Stephen Wolf was allowed to practice medicine. By state law, health care providers are required to report risky behavior by fellow physicians, especially if that behavior puts patients at risk. Each year physicians have to renew their licenses with the state medical board and answer a series of health related questions regarding the previous year.
"One of those questions talks about if they've been hospitalized, if they've had any major illness that could impact their ability to practice," Lyle Kelsey of the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision said.
It's a question Wolf answered no on his last renewal application, but sources tell News Channel 4 Dr. Wolf has been struggling with severe depression for years.
A neighbor told police Wolf was supposed to go to rehab for "drug and alcohol abuse."
A former colleague who used to be in practice with Wolf says at one time, Wolf became so irate at work he had to be taken out of the building and admitted for mental health care; an outburst the state medical board says should have been reported.
By law, health care professionals have to report what they consider to be "unprofessional conduct by a colleague."
"Obviously no one could have anticipated a tragic end like this, but if they felt it was something that endangered himself or patients then they would have an obligation to report it to us," Kelsey said.
In the police report, the same neighbor also says Wolf was "going through some trouble with his job."
Each hospital has its own procedures to determine when a doctor's behavior reaches a level that should be taken to the state.
In this case, board officials say Wolf's alleged anger issues along with drug and alcohol abuse, were never reported to them; if they had been, possible action would have been taken.
"We may take some actions based on an emergency basis or sited the individual for unprofessional conduct," Kelsey said.
Although hospitals may not face a legal requirement to report troubled doctors, there are other factors involved.
"They certainly would have an ethical requirement to report those kind of things," Kelsey said.
News Channel 4 received a brief statement from Saint Anthony's Hospital where Dr. Wolf is a practicing physician.
It says "We are not at liberty to discuss our employment relationship with any employees including Dr. Wolf. Since this matter is under criminal investigation, we respectfully decline any further comment."
"One of those questions talks about if they've been hospitalized, if they've had any major illness that could impact their ability to practice," Lyle Kelsey of the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision said.
It's a question Wolf answered no on his last renewal application, but sources tell News Channel 4 Dr. Wolf has been struggling with severe depression for years.
A neighbor told police Wolf was supposed to go to rehab for "drug and alcohol abuse."
A former colleague who used to be in practice with Wolf says at one time, Wolf became so irate at work he had to be taken out of the building and admitted for mental health care; an outburst the state medical board says should have been reported.
By law, health care professionals have to report what they consider to be "unprofessional conduct by a colleague."
"Obviously no one could have anticipated a tragic end like this, but if they felt it was something that endangered himself or patients then they would have an obligation to report it to us," Kelsey said.
In the police report, the same neighbor also says Wolf was "going through some trouble with his job."
Each hospital has its own procedures to determine when a doctor's behavior reaches a level that should be taken to the state.
In this case, board officials say Wolf's alleged anger issues along with drug and alcohol abuse, were never reported to them; if they had been, possible action would have been taken.
"We may take some actions based on an emergency basis or sited the individual for unprofessional conduct," Kelsey said.
Although hospitals may not face a legal requirement to report troubled doctors, there are other factors involved.
"They certainly would have an ethical requirement to report those kind of things," Kelsey said.
News Channel 4 received a brief statement from Saint Anthony's Hospital where Dr. Wolf is a practicing physician.
It says "We are not at liberty to discuss our employment relationship with any employees including Dr. Wolf. Since this matter is under criminal investigation, we respectfully decline any further comment."
