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Doctor's past includes allegations of improper contact with patients

DOCTOR
Kirk Michael Smith: Missouri denied him a medical license based on claims of inappropriate contact with patients.
 
By LEE LOGAN World Staff Writer
Published: 7/30/2008  2:11 AM
Last Modified: 7/30/2008  2:11 AM

A Tulsa doctor who is accused of molesting a female relative was accused several times of inappropriate sexual contact during his residency program in Missouri, reports show.

Despite the accusations, the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision licensed the doctor, Kirk Michael Smith.

Smith, 35, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of lewd molestation of a minor and forcible sodomy. He was booked into the Tulsa Jail and released less than two hours later after posting $200,000 bond.

Several messages left at Smith's home were not returned.

In November 2001, the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners denied Smith's application for a license, citing allegations of inappropriate contact with female patients during a little more than a year at a residency program in Kansas City, Mo.

According to a report from the board, four female patients complained about unwanted contact during exams with Smith. One patient reported that Smith "cupped" her breasts. Two patients reported feeling uncomfortable during pelvic exams, and another during a rectal exam. No chaperone was present during any of the exams.

After the Kansas City residency program placed Smith on leave in November 2000, he began treatment with a psychiatrist, who diagnosed him with obsessive compulsive disorder, according to the Iowa report.

According to the report, Smith testified that because of his OCD, he was extremely rigid and focused during the exams, causing the patients "to feel uncomfortable and misinterpret his actions."

Smith was later accepted into the University of Iowa's residency program, and Iowa's medical board granted Smith a restricted license in April 2002. The board said he should always be accompanied by a chaperone while treating female patients and should continue seeing a psychiatrist.

Lyle Kelsey, executive director of Oklahoma's medical board, said Tuesday that the board was "well aware" of Smith's past.

The board required Smith to receive further psychiatric counseling in Atlanta before it granted him a training license in May 2003, Kelsey said.

"The board wanted something a little more current that showed he would be OK to practice," he said.

Additionally, Smith was in a "very supervised" setting and was required to continue treatment, Kelsey said, adding that "based on all that, he was safe to enter residency training."

In 2006, Smith ended his residency and began regular practice. Oklahoma's medical board lists no criminal history or disciplinary problems.

Smith has practiced family medicine for about two years at Tulsa's SouthCrest Hospital. A hospital spokeswoman, Melissa Bogle, said he was suspended after his arrest.

If convicted, Bogle said, Smith would be fired. Additionally, he would likely lose his medical license, Kelsey said.




Lee Logan 732-8113
lee.logan@tulsaworld.com
By LEE LOGAN World Staff Writer

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Isaac Parker, Tulsa (7/30/2008 5:49:26 AM)
Pervert judges in OK...why not pervert docs?
Report Comment
fisherwoman, (7/30/2008 7:46:59 AM)
Look at how many breadcrumbs of information have dropped along the path of this man's life. Why in the world would ANYone who has ANY authority in determining who should and should not be pushed forward into a life of medical dedication to "DO NO HARM"...feel the story about being "so focused..." on the task of feeling women's bodies, examining women's bodies and, apparently, examining children's bodies....was ACCEPTABLE!!!!! The whole system is indicted here!!!!! Iowa tried and failed....OK didn't even try. We don't need just ANY doctors/health care workers: we need TRUSTWORTHY and HONEST ones, from physicians and nurses down to folks cleaning the floors. This type of victimization happens daily...because it can...in every state in the union.
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chase, (7/30/2008 8:19:54 AM)
oklahoma medical board,knew of his pastand let him practice,who is on this board,what a joke,but this situation is no joke.glad i am not one of his female patiences,and he might loss his license,he should loss his hands.
Report Comment
ddp, (7/30/2008 9:01:14 AM)
As I've said in another post, shame on the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure! I stand pretty confident that I am not the only human being who does not want someone caring for my medical needs that has psychological issues and homicidal ideation. Why would any medical board put all of us in potential jeopardy when doctors are a dime a dozen???
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Eric, Tulsa (7/30/2008 9:20:51 AM)
Sexual deviation knows no socio-economic, gender, race or religious boundaries.

I'm reluctant to "blame" any one person or thing for the perceived increase of sex crimes (especially crimes against children)...but I would almost bet that the Internet might be one part of the elusive 'smoking gun'.
The ease of access to countless images and video is staggering…and offers a variety that ranges from the scantily clad to the most bizarre of perversions.
Not that an image in and of itself is enough to cause a person to commit a crime, but again: the perceived increase of sex crimes seems to parallel the increased use of the Internet and all its content.

Sexual addiction is garnering more attention in the news media.
It is a real problem and needs serious attention in order to solve it.
I certainly do not have a solution but it will take more than a judge passing harsh sentences to slow down the increase in sex crimes.

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j9g478, (7/30/2008 9:55:49 AM)
Was this man released from jail and allowed to go back to the home where this little girl and her brother were? and is someone going to make sure these children are protected since their mother does not believe her husband committed this crime? My interest is for the children.
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Bluebird48, Sand Springs (7/30/2008 10:21:07 AM)
There a LOTS of these perverts out there folks...EVEN WOMEN Doctors can be DEVIANTS!

I always check out all my docs, teachers, lawyers, etc. Hey, it's your money...If they get all insulted, it's a sign to find another person.

We had an orthodontist who wouldn't allow me to sit with my son back in room where they do all the wiring and stuff. I said...okay...pulled off the bib napkin off of him (he was already novacained up) and carried him OUT. They were all shocked. I said NO WAY.

Eventually found one who did. Ain't life grand.
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ttu, (7/30/2008 3:09:57 PM)
i was wondering why i kept seeing the bixby pd in my neighborhood. just found out that dr. smith lives a few doors down from my house.

great:(( keep the doors locked
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Boyd & Jane Pleasant, Tulsa (11/14/2008 1:17:34 AM)
Most of the Doctor's I've had, ( and too many to mention ) NEVER EVER GAVE ME MY PHYSICAL, without a nurse & somestimes 2 nurse's were in the room with me & my male Doctor's. It is against the medical profession, for any Dr. to be alone with the patient, whether it's a grown woman or a child. What parent would let their children go by themselves in the first place? I don't care if it was just a routine check-up, no one should be alone with a Dr. without supervision, whether it be one's spouse, or parent.
If all these medical suthorities turned him down when he tried to get his license, how could he be in deep trouble? The Medical association are at fault in this situation. There will be more about this in the days to come. More truth will come out & this Dr. will be barred from even private practice.
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okie ridgerunner, small town (11/14/2008 7:31:35 PM)
He should not be out on bond. there should be no bond for such as this. him and his wife should both go to prison.
 

 
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