{"id":10380,"date":"2025-03-01T14:07:50","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan405\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:54:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:54:34","slug":"dhan405","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan405\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan405 ~  Division of Public Health  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan405.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->405 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->May 9, 2019 11:00 am <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n\n              <\/div>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  \n\n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdvisory<!--[END]-->\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGUIDANCE AFTER PAIN MANAGEMENT PHYSICIAN\u2019S LICENSE REVOKED<!--[END]-->\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The Division of Public Health (DPH) is issuing this health advisory to make health care providers aware that the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline has permanently revoked the medical license of Dr. Nihar B. Gala, effective immediately. The revocation was a result of allegations of unprofessional conduct related to the prescription of opioids to a patient at high risk of addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>There may be former patients of Gala who wish to obtain opioids, benzodiazepines, amphetamines or medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for continuing management of their symptoms. Individuals who may be misusing and abusing prescription medications are at a higher risk of drug-seeking behavior, illicit use of prescription medications and illegal substances and for dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including the potential for overdose or death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline met on Tuesday, May 7, and voted to revoke Gala\u2019s medical license following a recommendation by an administrative hearing officer. A revocation, by law, is to become effective immediately upon the vote by a board, regardless of when the Order is signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>According to a complaint filed by a state prosecutor, Gala exchanged opioid prescriptions with a female patient who was struggling with addiction in exchange for sexual favors while working at various \u201cGot-A-Doc\u201d medical centers in Millsboro and Camden prior to 2017. Gala ran a pain management and addiction treatment center \u2014 Alpha Care Medical \u2014 in Millsboro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Reccommendations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>To help Gala\u2019s patients find appropriate continued pain management care and appropriate medication support, DPH is recommending that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0Patients of who were receiving treatment for substance use disorder contact DSAMH\u2019s Mobile Crisis Helpline for Kent and Sussex counties at 1-800-345-6785 to get connected to new treatment services or talk with their insurer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0Prescribers should evaluate patients for substance use disorder risk as part of any regular clinical visit, but especially if they will be prescribing any controlled substances in general and opioids in particular. A sample opioid risk assessment tool can be found at Help Is Here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/Content\/Documents\/Opioid-Risk-Tool.pdf\">https:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/Content\/Documents\/Opioid-Risk-Tool.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0Consider tapering to a reduced opioid dosage or tapering and discontinuing opioid therapy under certain circumstances. Abruptly stopping opioid medication is not recommended. Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about tapering at Help Is Here in the Safe Prescribing section: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/Health-Care-Providers\/Safe-Prescribing#intro\">https:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/Health-Care-Providers\/Safe-Prescribing#intro<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0If a patient appears to be at risk for substance use disorder, consider alternatives to controlled substances and in the event the use of these medications is unavoidable, monitor their use very closely. To the extent possible, use alternative therapies such as:\n\n\n\n\n\n <ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <li>\u00a0Rehabilitative services, physical therapy, exercise and strength training for chronic pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <li>\u00a0Cognitive behavior therapy and relaxation techniques for chronic pain and anxiety<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <li>\u00a0Clinically appropriate non-controlled medications including but not limited to:\n\n\n\n\n\n  <ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n   <li>\u00a0acetaminophen and\/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for chronic pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n   <li>\u00a0selective serotonin and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI and SNRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) for anxiety and chronic pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n   <li>\u00a0atomoxetine (Strattera) and\/or guanfacine (Intuniv) for ADHD<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n <\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0For further information on substance use disorder for community members and medical providers, visit \u201cHelp is Here\u201d at:\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\">www.helpisherede.com<\/a>. For a list of current locations that offer outpatient, inpatient, detoxification, recovery support, and recovery living, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\/Resource-Guide\/Here-for-me\">www.helpisherede.com\/Resource-Guide\/Here-for-me<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0To reduce \u201cdoctor-shopping\u201d and to check the patient\u2019s history for controlled substances, query the Prescription Drug Monitoring program at <a href=\"http:\/\/dpr.delaware.gov\/boards\/controlledsubstances\/pmp\/default.shtml\">http:\/\/dpr.delaware.gov\/boards\/controlledsubstances\/pmp\/default.shtml<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0Medical providers and law enforcement should be especially vigilant about potential patient overdoses or those with drug-seeking behavior, particularly in and around Millsboro where Gala\u2019s practice was located.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0Patients should be reminded to lock up all medications or put them out of the way of anyone, including children or pets, who might try to consume them, whether by accident or on purpose. Patients can safely dispose of any unused medications at Delaware prescription medication drop boxes. There are 21 permanent drop boxes at this time. For a complete list of locations, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\">www.helpisherede.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2>Additional information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0U.S. Surgeon General resources on opioids for physicians and patients:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n <a href=\"http:\/\/turnthetiderx.org\/\">http:\/\/turnthetiderx.org\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/drugoverdose\/prescribing\/guideline.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/drugoverdose\/prescribing\/guideline.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0Opioid risk assessment tool:<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/OpioidRiskTool.pdf\">https:\/\/www.drugabuse.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/OpioidRiskTool.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n <li>\u00a0Help Is Here<br>\n\n\n\n\n\n <a href=\"http:\/\/www.helpisherede.com\">www.helpisherede.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>************************************<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>You are receiving this email because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network. If you are not a member and would like to subscribe, please register at <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalertde.org\">https:\/\/healthalertde.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p><br>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p><p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\">Adobe <\/a>. If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n\n       <\/div>\n\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n\n      <ul>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div> \n\n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #405 May 9, 2019 11:00 am Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10380","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10380","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10380"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10380\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11556,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10380\/revisions\/11556"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10380"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}