An Erie psychiatrist specializing in addiction psychiatry has been put on indefinite probation by the Colorado Medical Board after admitting he wrongly prescribed controlled substances to a female patient, failed to maintain proper records of his prescribing and treatment of her, and engaged in a romantic relationship with her.
Halbert B. Miller was publicly disciplined by the Medical Board with indefinite probation effective March 16, a letter of admonition, and orders to complete a professional boundaries course and a prescribing course in response to his actions, which are unprofessional conduct under Colorado law.
Boundary violations occur when doctors use their position of trust and authority for their own pleasure or benefit (or the benefit of others). Psychiatrists account for the largest percentage of doctors with boundary violations. One in three physicians who were disciplined for inappropriate personal contact with patients were psychiatrists.
Miller, who is also licensed in North Dakota, had been disciplined by that state’s medical board for the same misconduct, which it termed “unprofessional, unethical and/or dishonorable conduct that is likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public.”
Miller was previously disciplined by the Colorado and Massachusetts Medical Boards.
After failing to renew his Massachusetts license in 2013, Miller continued to practice psychiatry without a license. He also fraudulently claimed in his license renewal application that he was Board-certified in addiction psychiatry, but the certification had expired in 2008. In 2014, the Massachusetts Medical Board publicly reprimanded Miller and fined him $2,500 for this misconduct.
Following the actions taken by the Massachusetts Board, the Colorado Medical Board sent a letter of admonition to Miller in 2015, stating that his actions were also unprofessional conduct under Colorado law and warning him that any similar conduct in the future could lead to formal disciplinary action against his Colorado license.
Miller currently lists addiction psychiatry as his specialty in his online profile.
The Colorado Medical Board monthly disciplinary action summary lists Miller’s address as Erie, while the Department of Regulatory Agencies license lookup lists it as Lafayette. Online search results indicate he practiced in Boulder.
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