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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- The license of a Springville fertility specialist and osteopathic physician has been suspended by regulators who allege he sexually abused patients and staff members.
Dr. Larry Glen Andrew temporarily lost his license to practice medicine and also his license to administer and prescribe controlled substances through a Dec. 23 emergency order of the state Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.
Investigations by Springville police and the DOPL concluded that Andrew had been taking "indecent liberties" with patients and staff members.
Peter Stirba, Andrew's attorney, said they were considering the various options and then will decide what action to take.
Because the hearing was held with little notice and without either Andrew or Stirba being present, they can request a formal hearing.
The DOPL investigation and hearing stemmed from a complaint filed against Andrew, said Clark Caras, spokesman for the Department of Commerce. Other complaints came in while the investigation was ongoing, although he didn't say how many.
"I'll just say that typically in that type of situation there's a ripple effect in terms of people coming forward," he said.
Stirba said in many such situations there is the potential for misunderstanding or misinterpreting of the facts.
"This is where we may be," he said.
If a formal hearing is requested, the DOPL has 20 days or "an appropriate amount of time" to schedule a hearing, Caras said.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
