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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska attorney general's office is seeking disciplinary action against a Lincoln orthopedic surgeon and former Huskers football player who is accused of practicing medicine while impaired.
The petition filed this week alleges that Dr. Scott E. Strasburger arrived at work Nov. 26 in an impaired state that prevented him from performing surgeries that day. Strasburger, 51, refused to submit to a drug test and has a documented history of drug use, according to the petition. The exact drug wasn't specified.
"The defendant's conduct on or about November 26, 2014, involving the practice of medicine and surgery while impaired is grounds for discipline," Suzanna Glover-Ettrich, a special assistant attorney general, wrote. A phone message left at Strasburger's office wasn't immediately returned. A listed home phone number rang unanswered.
Strasburg could face a range of penalties, including public censure, financial penalties, probation or having his license suspended or revoked, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Marla Augustine said.
The decision is made by the state's chief medical officer, unless the parties reach an agreement. Augustine said no hearing date has been set.
The petition says Strasburger tested positive for an unspecified controlled substance during an October 2013 screening requested by his previous employer, Nebraska Orthopedic and Sports Medicine in Lincoln.
Strasburger, who worked at that clinic since 1997, was placed in a residential treatment program in November 2013. He completed it the following month and went through outpatient treatment that ended in January.
In July, Strasburger took another drug test at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege and again tested positive for an unspecified controlled substance. His surgeries and clinical appointments were all canceled, according to the petition, and he resigned.
Strasburger was a defensive end for the Huskers from 1981-1984, being named a third-team All-American and a two-time All-Big Eight selection. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1985, but online NFL records don't show his player statistics.
He received his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in 1990, and his medical license in Nebraska in 1996. Strasburger attended the Nebraska Medical Center School of Medicine and did his residency at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. He received advanced training at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, according to his biography on his clinic's website.
In February, he announced that he was opening his own clinic, Strasburger Orthopaedics. According to his website, Strasburger specializes in shoulder and rotator cuff issues, knee replacements and other sports injuries.
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