Maine medical board lists physicians disciplined

Maine’s Board of Licensure in Medicine has announced the following actions regarding physicians in central and northern Maine:

. Holly G. Arato, M.D., Presque Isle. Family practice. Dr. Arato admitted to using “poor judgment” in medicating herself for pain stemming from injuries she suffered in 1999 and 2001. She has signed a five-year probationary agreement and is required to maintain a relationship with a primary care physician and to have her medical practice monitored during that time.

. Virginia Biddle, M.D., Blue Hill. Internal medicine. Dr. Biddle, whose license to practice medicine was suspended in November for prescribing medications over the Internet, has had her license reinstated with some conditions. Dr. Biddle, who is retired, has signed a consent agreement stating she will prescribe medications only to patients with whom she has developed a legitimate doctor-patient relationship.

. Frank J. Ilardi, M.D., Islesboro. Psychiatry. Dr. Ilardi, whose license expired in March 2003, was denied reinstatement by the Board of Licensure.

. Willard J. Morse, M.D., Pembroke. General practice. Dr. Morse has signed a consent agreement stating he will limit his practice to performing physical examinations for the Federal Aviation Administration, the Coast Guard, the Department of Transportation and life insurance companies.

. John C. Van Pelt, M.D., Ellsworth. Pediatrics. The board determined Dr. Van Pelt acted in an unprofessional and incompetent manner and violated sexual misconduct rules. Dr. Van Pelt’s license has been suspended for 90 days, but the suspension does not become effective until Jan. 27, 2006, in order to allow patients to transfer to other doctors. Effective immediately, Dr. Van Pelt must use a chaperone when examining patients and must obtain special consent from patients, parents and guardians.

The Board of Licensure in Medicine is made up of six physicians and three public members appointed by the governor.

For information about the activities of the board, including disciplinary actions, visit the agency’s Web site at www.docboard.org/me/mehome.htm.