Nurse accused of overprescribing narcotics surrenders license

By Hinda Mandell, Globe Correspondent

A nurse who was acccused of prescribing thousands of addictive narcotics along with a Needham doctor today agreed to surrender her license and her authorization to work as a nurse practitioner.

The agreement marked the latest development in an investigation of Dr. Joseph Z. Zolot, and his nurse practitioner Lisa Pliner. Both worked at a Needham pain management clinic, the Non-Surgical Orthopedic Center.

The Globe reported in September that Zolot and Pliner ranked 10th and 9th, respectively, on a list of the state's top prescribers of the most addictive narcotics, with only hospitals and other large institutions above them. Together, they wrote nearly 12,000 pain-pill prescriptions in 2006.

State regulators said today that they had evidence that Pliner's "prescribing practices were excessive and inappropriate based upon her patients' diagnoses and these practices did not take into account possible adverse effects and potential for dependency and addiction." The state Board of Registration in Nursing said she "failed to meet accepted standards of nursing practices in certain instances," including in performing injections on patients.

Pliner did not admit to the allegations as part of the agreement. Her attorney, Michael J. Connolly, said she denies mistreating patients. He said the agreement allows her "to put this behind her."

Pliner had agreed to halt her prescription privileges in July while the state investigated the allegations. Effective today, Pliner surrendered her RN license for a minimum of eight weeks and her nurse practitioner authorization for a minimum of one year. She can later petition the board to reinstate her license, after taking courses on proper pain managment.

Department of Public Health spokeswoman Donna Rheaume said about 70 nurses surrender their licenses each year, often related to substance abuse or impairment.

Zolot’s medical license was suspended by the state Board of Registration in Medicine in June, following a raid on his offices the month before by state and federal law enforcement officials. Zolot has not been criminally charged, and he is appealing the suspension.

A document from the medical board alleges Zolot -- who immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1988 -- provided substandard care to 30 patients. The Globe reported that six of them died.

Both Zolot and Pliner are Russian immigrants. The center's website said Pliner graduated from Rostov State University in Russia, majoring in computer science. After emigrating from Russia in 1991, Pliner changed focus "in order to fulfill her dream -- help sick people." She later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Simmons College and a master’s degree in nursing from Regis College. Biographical information on the website said Pliner started working with the center in 2003. "Her competence, interpersonal skills, commitment, and warm personality earned her enormous respect from the patients and office personnel," the site said.