A spokeswoman for the Medical Society of Delaware says the organization did hear about concerns related to accused pedophile Dr. Earl Bradley, but the situation did not involve inappropriate behavior with patients.
Wendy Gainor, Medical Society of Delaware’s senior director of professional services, said Bradley’s sister, who at one time was the doctor’s office manager, brought concerns about the doctor’s finances and spending habits to the society’s attention.
Bradley has been in jail since December when authorities arrested him in connection with more than 30 felony counts of rape and exploitation of young children who had been the pediatrician’s patients.
“She was concerned about him as an individual and concerned about his family. No one ever brought concerns about pedophilia to us,” Gainor said.
Bradley’s license to practice medicine has been suspended by the Delaware Professional Regulation - Board of Medical Practice.
Gainor said the medical society is not an extension of the Board of Medical Practice.
“We’re not a licensing body. We don’t issue licenses, and we don’t have any control over whether a physician is licensed in the state. That’s the Board of Medical Practice’s role,” Gainor said.
Gainor said membership in the society is voluntary. She said Bradley was a member of the society, but since the criminal investigation into his alleged wrongdoing began, his membership has been suspended and is pending.
“Just like the American Medical Association nationally, we’re an advocacy and education organization. Physicians decide whether they want to become a member or not,” Gainor said.
She said the society’s purpose is to help physicians operate their medical practices by providing continuing education, business information assistance and other programs.
She said if the Board of Medical Practice thinks a physician should be monitored or counseled, the society’s role is to help make that happen.
For example, Gainor said if a doctor has a mental illness or some other problem that doesn’t affect competency or patient safety, the society has a program that physicians can voluntarily participate in to receive help they need.
“If there was anything that would come to the physicians who serve on the society’s Physicians’ Health Program that a physician would be required to report, they know they have to go to the Board of Medical Practice about it,” Gainor said.
“Just like everyone else, we’re waiting to see what happens with the Bradley case,” she said.
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