A former Annapolis gynecologist, who surrendered his license to practice medicine in 1992 after two patients complained that he had sex with them, won back his license Tuesday.
Jeffrey Briggs won reinstatement from the State Board of Physician Quality Assurance, but will remain on probation with the board for three years.
The nine-page order allowing his reinstatement says he must practice medicine under supervision, continue psychotherapy for six months, take an ethics course and have another female present when he treats patients.
Dr. Briggs surrendered his medical license Nov. 19, 1992, after two patients filed complaints alleging that he had sexual relations with them, one in 1988 and the other about two years ago.
He since has moved to Carthage, N.Y., where he has staff privileges at the Carthage Area Hospital. He did not return phone calls yesterday.
Dr. Israel H. Weiner, chairman of the physician's board, said the board decided to reinstate the 41-year-old doctor because he agreed to meet the board's terms.
He said a board-appointed therapist reported that Dr. Briggs had, through therapy, "developed insight into the deleterious effects such relationships have on patients."
"He's jumped through all the hoops, including continuing psychotherapy," Dr. Weiner said.
Knowing that Dr. Briggs was going through a divorce at the time and that the sexual relationships were consensual, the board agreed to mitigate his punishment, Dr. Weiner said.
"No sexual contact [between doctor and patient] is tolerable, but there is a gradation of offenses," he said. "Some people are salvageable, and the board felt Dr. Briggs was one of them."
Dr. Briggs' legal problems are not over, however.
He sued in Anne Arundel Circuit Court yesterday, to force his former partners to continue making monthly payments of $3,507 as part of a June 1993 agreement to buy him out of the practice. Annapolis OB/GYN agreed to pay him $126,276 for his departure.
According to the suit, the partnership stopped making the payments last summer after it was named as a co-defendant in malpractice suits filed by two of Dr. Briggs' former patients.
A Severna Park woman filed a $5 million suit in Anne Arundel Circuit Court June 24, alleging that he impregnated her twice while she was his patient and both times persuaded her to have abortions.
He was sued two weeks later by another woman, who also claimed in a $4 million suit that he seduced her into having a relationship while he was treating her.
