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Sandra Yi ReportingJoe Christensen: "I would be concerned if I was a patient, about the condition my medical provider was in."
Prosecutors have filed seven felony charges, against a nurse practitioner who admitted to seeing patients while on drugs. Nearly two months after Steven Larsen's arrest, he still is on the job.
Employees at Hunter Medical Center told KSL Steven Larsen was working today, but when we asked for him, they said he was unavailable. Larsen is also a nurse practitioner at Jordan Meadows Medical Center in West Jordan. Because of these charges, he could lose his license.
Matt Asay, Patient, March 10, 2006: "If he's been doing that, then obviously it's not right, but I've never had a problem with him. He's always been good with me, as far as my treatment for diabetes. He's always been very helpful."
In March, patients at Jordan Meadows Medical Center expressed disbelief, but only had kind words for Steven Larsen.
Matt Asay: "He always answered my questions, went into depth with my questions, didn't seem to me like he was on any kind of drug or anything."
But Larsen admitted to authorities he was addicted to prescription painkillers and saw patients while under the influence. Court documents filed today say a head nurse reported finding needles and empty OxyContin bottles in the parking lot.
Larsen was on the job when officers arrested him in February. According to court documents, that's when another co-worker reported Larsen was "slurring his speech, itching a lot, 'tired and didn't seem to be there'."
Joe Christensen, Utah Insurance Fraud Division: "Obviously, somebody who can barely speak or has trouble functioning with his gross motor skills, the likelihood that they can function mentally or correctly would be questionable to me."
Authorities are also looking at a dozen co-workers and patients who allegedly obtained prescriptions for Larsen and split pills with him. They say many of them formed a drug habit because of it.
Joe Christensen: "Many of these scrips were run through the patients' individual insurance program and the insurance was charged."
Each felony count carries a penalty of five to 15 years in prison. Larsen had surrendered his license to prescribe drugs.
A spokesperson for the "Department of Professional Licensing" could not be reached. But he has said the future of Larsen's nursing license could hinge on the charges.
The doctor did not return our calls.
