W-b Native To Help Cover Democrats 
Who: 
Tara Munkatchy 
Home Town: 
Wilkes-barre 
Education: 
1991 Graduate Of Bishop Hoban High School; B.a. In English Writing And History

Airport Awards Construction Pact

By ANTHONY COLAROSSI; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Saturday, August 24, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





HAZLETON -- Police confirmed that additional charges will be brought
against Dr. Frank Ruhl Peterson, the anesthesiologist arrested and charged
last week with stealing drugs from patients and keeping them for his own use. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hazleton Detective Edward Harry confirmed new charges are being brought,
but he declined to say when -- or whether they are drug related. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Police say Peterson withheld narcotics from patients at Hazleton Saint
Joseph Medical Center and then used the drugs himself. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Peterson was employed by Conyngham Anesthesia Associates in Hazleton. The
firm provides anesthesiologists to both Hazleton hospitals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Aug. 16, Peterson, 44, was charged with one count of theft by unlawful
taking, one count of violation of the controlled substance act and two counts
of simple assault. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Officials at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility confirmed Friday that
Peterson was still being held on $500,000 bail. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Peterson had prior drug arrests in San Francisco, Miami, New York City,
Boston and Dayton, Ohio, said Hazleton police. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Peterson also acknowledged having a prior drug problem and said he had gone
through rehabilitation, according to his employer and hospital officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A copy of Peterson's license application to practice medicine in
Pennsylvania shows he denied breaking drug laws or being addicted to drugs or
alcohol. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Involvement in a program called the "Board's Health Monitoring Program"
would allow Peterson to answer "no" to questions concerning drug addiction,
but state officials could not divulge whether he enrolled in that program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If Peterson had answered "yes" to any of five questions on the application,
a criminal check could have been started, said David Hixson, Pennsylvania
Department of State spokesman. But Peterson answered "no" to all five
questions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said the bureau cannot legally conduct an arbitrary criminal background
check on license applicants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Do people lie on the application? The answer is yes," said Hixson. "Have
people been disciplined for lying on the application. Yes." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hixson said the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs is now
investigating the recent drug-related charges. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If the bureau determines the allegations fall under the jurisdiction of the
state Board of Medicine, which licensed Peterson, a special prosecutor could
bring formal, administrative charges. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If found guilty after a formal hearing, sanctions range from reprimand to
license revocation, Hixson said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Peterson was certified by the state in May 1995. No formal action has been
taken against his license, Hixson said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The director of anesthesia for Conyngham Associates and officials at Saint
Joseph's, where Peterson was awarded privileges, were unsure whether they
could have legally checked into Peterson's criminal history. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Patrick J. Ward, the hospital's vice president of community relations, said
employees of the hospital's contractors and hospital employees themselves are
not given drug tests prior to employment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There may be a change in that policy in the near future," Ward said. "But
I'm speculating on that." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Barry Kraynack, with Conyngham Associates, said Peterson's "credentials and
recommendations were superb." But Peterson did acknowledge a prior drug
problem before joining in June. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He told us he had been in a rehab and gave his psychologist's name,"
Kraynack said, adding that the psychologist confirmed Peterson was
rehabilitated. "When he came here he was essentially clean." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Peterson's last position was anesthesiology chief resident at Meridia Huron
Hospital in Cleveland. Doctors there refused to comment about Peterson. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

More Charges Set For Doctor 
Dr. Frank Ruhl Peterson 
Of Hazleton Saint Joseph 
Medical Center Has Already 
Been Charged With Stealing 
Drugs From Patients

More Charges Set For Doctor Dr. Frank Ruhl Peterson Of Hazleton Saint Joseph Medical Center Has Already Been Charged With Stealing Drugs From Patients