Barlow Smith

Austin American Statesman
Two Central Texas doctors lose licenses after felony convictions
By Mary Ann Roser
September 4, 2016

— Excerpt

An 85-year-old Marble Falls psychiatrist who pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge was sentenced Tuesday in Burnet County to 10 years of probation and a short jail stay.

Barlow Smith reached an agreement with the Burnet County district attorney’s office in which he pleaded guilty to one of three felony counts concerning the fraudulent dispensing of a controlled substance. The DA recommended probation on the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. District Judge Evan Stubbs agreed to the probation and also sentenced Smith to 15 days in the Burnet County Jail and fined him $1,000, plus $359 in court costs…

The board accepted the surrender of Smith’s license in connection with the felony. Smith’s history with the board goes back to 2009 when it disciplined him for an alleged sexual relationship with a patient who had been sexually abused as a child.

In its most recent action, the board also considered allegations that Smith had improperly prescribed controlled substances to 10 patients. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had raided Smith’s office in 2013, and one of the 10 patients died of the toxic effects of multiple drugs in February 2014.

The board said Smith had prescribed at least five of the eight drugs found in the patient’s body.

Smith did not admit to or deny the board’s allegations, the order says, and he can reapply for his license after a year.

In the criminal case, the Burnet County DA dropped two other felony counts, and Smith waived his right to appeal the conviction…