Judge Blocks Suspension of Helena Physician’s License

A judge has blocked the state Board of Medical Examiners' decision to suspend the medical license of a Helena physician.

The board sanctioned Dr. Mark Ibsen on Tuesday after finding he prescribed excessive quantities of narcotics to five patients and failed to adequately chart his reasons for re-writing some prescriptions early. But a judge intervened Thursday and blocked the suspension.

The board had said Ibsen could apply for reinstatement after meeting several conditions, including taking a course on medical record keeping. With a reinstated license, he would have to work under supervision for at least a year and after that face annual audits of his patient charts until the board decided they were no longer necessary.

The Independent Record reports the judge's intervention means Ibsen's license will remain valid in the meantime.