A former orthopedic surgeon who worked in Tacoma, Wash., was sanctioned after telling authorities he had inappropriate relationships with about 10 patients during his practice, Tacoma News Tribune reported Sept. 2.
Ian Lawson, MD, worked as a hand surgeon with MultiCare in Tacoma and was employed from 2010 to 2019. He told state medical authorities in May that he had sexual relationships with about 10 female patients between 1998 and 2000. None of the patients have filed complaints.
Dr. Lawson stopped practicing medicine in 2019, but his physician and surgeon license is still active.
The state medical commission issued sanctions on his license including a requirement to complete an intensive boundaries course, write a scholarly paper on maintaining appropriate boundaries with patients and pay $3,000 in expense recovery. He will also have to notify any new patients about his previous misconduct.