Charges against health department worker dropped

Criminal charges against a gulf County health department worker have been dropped and investigators say the issue stemmed from incorrect procedures at the health department. 60 year old Barbara McDermid was charged in August for illegally dispensing controlled substances, practicing medicine without a license and identity theft. Those charges have now been dropped and Mrs. McDermid has returned to work. Investigators said Mrs. McDermid wrote at least 29 prescriptions to patients using the name and Drug Enforcement Administration number of an Orlando area physician, without his knowledge or consent. It turns out that wasn’t true. Additional investigation showed that McDermid was following instructions from the Orlando physician, who is under contract with the health department to consult on psychiatric patients. The problem was that the process the health department was using was incorrect and that led to the FDLE investigation. The Health Department said they have since corrected the issue. Doug Kent, executive director of the Gulf County Health Department said the health department failed to follow the law and now we are following the law.” Mr. Kent added that he regrets that such actions were taken without first performing a full investigative review adding that Mrs. McDermid’s work actions at the health department have always reflected the highest of standards and patient care.”