- Board of Registration in Medicine
WAKEFIELD — At its meeting on February 2, 2023, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine took disciplinary action against the medical licenses of Walter N. Simmons, M.D., Thomas W. Stinson, M.D., Ashok Joshi, M.D., and Raafat Attia Hanna, M.D.
In a Final Decision & Order, the Board revoked Dr. Walter N. Simmons’ medical license after it found that he had pled guilty in federal court to three counts of Wrongful Use of a Unique Health Identifier. He was sentenced to a period of incarceration as a result. Dr. Simmons has been licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth since June 13, 2001. Dr. Simmons is also licensed to practice medicine in several other states.
The Board revoked Dr. Thomas W. Stinson’s inchoate right to renew his medical license after it found, in a Final Decision & Order, that he failed to consult the MassPAT prior to issuing prescriptions for any of his patients from July 2021 to August 4, 2022 and engaged in disruptive behavior at his office on more than one occasion. Dr. Stinson was licensed to practice medicine in Massachusetts from August 27, 1976 until his medical license was summarily suspended on August 4, 2022. Prior to the summary suspension of his medical license, Dr. Stinson maintained a solo practice in Woburn.
In a Consent Order, the Board suspended and immediately stayed the suspension of the license of Dr. Ashok Joshi after he agreed that he had failed to meet the standard of care for two patients. Dr. Joshi is also permanently restricted from the practice of emergency medicine. The suspension of Dr. Joshi’s license was immediately stayed upon his entry into a probation agreement which incorporated the recommendations of a clinical competence assessment. Dr. Joshi has been licensed to practice medicine in Massachusetts since May 1986 and is affiliated with Lowell General Hospital and Athol Memorial Hospital.
The Board reprimanded Dr. Raafat Attia Hanna’s license to practice medicine after he agreed, in a Consent Order, that he had rendered substandard care to a patient in prescribing controlled substances. Dr. Hanna has been licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth since January 17, 1990. Dr. Hanna was affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth and Cape Cod Healthcare in Plymouth until he retired and relocated to Florida.
The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine licenses more than 40,000 physicians, osteopaths and acupuncturists. The Board was created in 1894 to protect the public health and safety by setting standards for the practice of medicine and ensuring that doctors who practice in the Commonwealth are appropriately qualified and competent. The Board investigates complaints and determines sanctions. More information is available at www.mass.gov/massmedboard, or you may contact the Board at borimmedia@massmail.state.ma.us.