By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
A Salisbury doctor has voluntarily inactivated his medical license after being accused of numerous problems related to alcohol.
In addition, Dr. Daulat Haldea, who specialized in gastroenterology and internal medicine, has been ordered to appear before the N.C. Medical Board for a hearing concerning those allegations.
Attempts to reach Haldea on Tuesday were unsuccessful. His phone has been disconnected.
According to information supplied by the Medical Board, Haldea practiced medicine in Salisbury with hospital privileges at Rowan Regional Medical Center.
Michael Burton, a spokesman for Rowan Regional, said Haldea was a physician affiliated with the hospital who “retired” in November.
Burton said Haldea worked at the hospital from the time he got his medical license in 2001 until November.
According to the N.C. Medical Board, Haldea was referred to the N.C. Physicians Health Program in August 2007 after Rowan Regional officials observed him at the hospital with alcohol on his breath.
Burton said it was the only time hospital officials knew that Haldea had been drinking on the job.
“We found out about the problem and we referred him for help,” Burton said.
According to the Medical Board, Haldea had numerous other problems involving alcohol.
On June 24, 2007, Haldea was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Salisbury. The N.C. Highway Patrol trooper who responded to the call determined that Haldea’s car had crossed the center line and struck an oncoming vehicle.
Haldea’s car was completely in the oncoming lane of travel, the accident report stated. He was charged with driving while impaired, possession of an open container and driving left of center.
Haldea told officials with the Medical Board he was alcohol dependent and would undergo residential inpatient treatment for his addiction after he returned from an overseas trip. However, after returning from the trip in November 2007, Haldea refused to undergo treatment.
On Nov. 6, 2007, Haldea inactivated his North Carolina medical license.
According to the Medical Board, two of Haldea’s employees confirmed his problems with alcohol.
“On a daily basis, these employees observed Dr. Haldea consume alcohol while at work,” the report from the Medical Board reads. “Furthermore, Dr. Haldea would ask these employees to drive to a local ABC store or grocery store to purchase alcohol for him. The employees would purchase wine coolers, bottles of wine and bottles of Johnny Walker Black whiskey for Haldea.”
According to the memo, Haldea would consume wine, wine coolers and liquor while at work. Empty bottles of wine would accumulate under his office desk.
“He would also pour Johnny Walker Black whiskey into his coffee and consume the whiskey-coffee while he saw patients,” the memo continued.
According to the Medical Board, on occasion, the employees would have to pick up Haldea at a local restaurant because he was too intoxicated to drive home. Haldea would also miss morning appointments because of the drinking he’d done the previous night. His employees would have to call him or drive to his house to wake him up.
Eventually, Haldea bought a house behind his practice because of his problems with missing appointments due to his previous-night drinking.
“Dr. Haldea’s conduct constitutes unprofessional conduct,” the Medical Board concluded. “Grounds exist under the N.C. General Statutes for the Board to annul, suspend, revoke or limit Dr. Haldea’s license to practice medicine issued by the Board or to deny any future application he might make.”
Haldea has been ordered to appear before the N.C. Medical Board in Raleigh at 8 a.m. on April 23.
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.