In a 9-3 vote Thursday, a state board suspended the license of a Conway doctor accused of sexually assaulting two patients, despite the doctor's contention that the patients' allegations are false.
"I'm innocent of these charges," Robert Rook, accompanied by his attorneys, told the Arkansas State Medical Board.
Rook, a 61-year-old family practice doctor, was arrested June 3 on three counts each of rape and sexual assault of the two female patients at his clinic last year. He is free on $225,000 bond.
Both women said Rook fondled their breasts during examinations last fall. One woman said he also touched her vagina during three visits, including twice after having her remove her clothes and without providing her with a gown.
Questioned by police in December, Rook denied examining the breasts or pelvis of either of the women and said he is always accompanied by a chaperone when performing such exams.
A third patient told police in January that she had intercourse and oral sex with Rook at his clinic, and that afterward he would write prescriptions for her and sometimes gave her cash.
Rook has not been charged in the alleged encounters with that patient.
One of Rook's attorneys, Patrick Benca of Little Rock, noted that police didn't arrest Rook until six months after they questioned him.
Police haven't questioned the clinic's employees, he said, and he doesn't know of any evidence against his client other than the women's statements.
He asked that Rook be allowed to continue to practice medicine on the condition that he be accompanied by a female chaperone while examining women.
Under questioning by board chairman Joseph Beck, Benca said additional women have made complaints to police, but he noted that they came only after police publicly encouraged others who believed themselves to have been victimized or who had information in the case to step forward.
"If the board were to take his medical license under just a 'he said, she said,' allegation, well, his career is ruined," Benca said.
"There's one he and three shes, and more to come," Beck countered.
Board member Omar Atiq asked Rook: "So, this is all a made-up story?"
"Yes, sir," Rook responded.
Asked why the women would make up such stories, Benca said Rook had cooperated in an investigation of pharmacists who dispensed pain medications and "took active measures to get patients off these types of drugs."
Beck said the board often hears from patients who are angry about not getting their medications, but "we don't have sexual allegations that come with that."
In a show of hands, Atiq and board members Bob Cogburn, William Dudding, Rodney Griffin, Veryl Hodges, Marie Holder, Buddy Lovell, John Scribner and David Staggs voted to impose the suspension.
Steven Cathey, William Rutledge and John Weiss voted against the suspension. Board member Robert Breving Jr. was absent. Beck typically votes only to break a tie.
The emergency order will be in effect pending a full hearing before the board. Benca said Rook will appeal the suspension to Pulaski County Circuit Court.
Metro on 06/10/2016