Psychiatrist suspended at LRGH

The New Hampshire Board of Medicine yesterday suspended the license of Lawrence A. Mazur, M.D. of the senior psychiatric unit at Lakes Region General Hospital on the heels of several episodes indicating that he posed "an imminent threat to life, safety and/or health."

The board issued an emergency order suspending Mazur's license for 120 days pending the outcome of a hearing in United States District Court in Concord on July 7. State law authorizes the board to take a variety of disciplinary measures ranging from restricting to revoking licenses as well as requiring treatment by an appropriate health care provider or close supervision by a qualified physician.

Henry Lipman, senior vice-president and chief financial officer of LRGHealthcare declined all comment on the matter.

In support of its order the board alleges that in May Mazur began making rounds of his patients at 2 a.m. and, after directed to make his round during waking hours, complied only briefly before reverting to the early morning hours.

The board further alleges that Mazur failed to keep proper documentation and, when an advanced practice registered nurse was assigned to assist him, advised her supervisor that, in his clinical opinion, she required a month's administrative leave.

The most serious allegations refer to Mazur's treatment of a psychotic 76 year-old woman, which was witnessed by a nurse, who reported his conduct. After asking the patient to lie on a couch, the nurse reported he darkened the room. When she grew "nervous and agitated," he asked her in a loud voice if someone had harmed in the dark. When the woman indicated that she wished to end the session and asked if she could return the following week he told her that he could be dead by then.

As the woman left the room, the nurse said that she struggled with the door. Knowing the patient's mobility was impaired, the nurse went to help her, but three times Mazur physically restrained her from doing so. After the patient left, the nurse said she was frightened and twice told Mazur not to touch her again. Although Mazur later apologized, the nurse feared to work with him again and took leave until he was suspended.

Following the incident, on June 22, Mazur met with members of the hospital's administrative staff, who told him he was being suspended based on allegations of assault. He was given a letter and urged to read it, but said he was too busy. He then sent e-mails demanding that the parties to his suspension resign and in addressing the alleged assault, referred to extraneous and irrelevant matters.

The New Hampshire Department of Justice asked Mazur to appear for an interview. He replied by offering to buy lunch, closed by asking "your place or mine," and arranged an interview a bagel shop in Concord.

Ultimately Mazur arrived at the department for his interview dressed in sweatpants, sneakers and a T-shirt reading "Beer, Helping White Men Dance since 1862." He was accompanied, the board reported, by his wife and daughter and announced that the first would act as his legal counsel and the second would record the proceedings.

During the interview Mazur allegedly found it difficult to focus and when questioned frequently provided "rambling, unresponsive answers that were unrelated to the question" while referring to the hearings officer as "sugar" and "sweetheart" and frequently using profanity. Asked about the alleged assault, Mazur rose from his chair, walked toward the door and "appeared very agitated."