UPDATE: February 23, 2011, 12:10 pm
The case of an area doctor, pulled over in November for DUI, will now head to the Washington County Grand Jury. According to Washington County Sessions Court clerks, Judge Robert Lincoln sent the case of Kiran Patibandla on to criminal court today.
Patibandla is due back in court on May 13th.
The Tennessee Department of Health said today, it has no information to release in regards to Patibandla at this time.
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The Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested a Johnson City doctor Friday for driving under the influence, but that is not where the story ends.
According to Trooper Jonathan Street’s arrest report, Dr. Kiran Patibandla was pulled over at 4:00 am Friday at the intersection of John Exum Parkway and North Roan Street in Johnson City.
Patibandla is listed as a doctor with Johnson City Internal Medicine Associates on State of Franklin Healthcare Associates' website. According to the State Department of Health, Patibandla first became licensed in Tennessee in 2005.
But on the night he was pulled over, Dr. Patibandla was suspected of driving under the influence.
"During the nine step walk and turn Mr. Patibandla missed heel to toe several times and was unsteady with his balance," wrote Trooper Street in his report. "I asked Mr. Patibandla to say his alphabet from the letter ‘E’ to the letter ‘S’ which he could not complete properly."
According to the trooper, Dr. Pantibandla then became belligerent.
"Mr. Patibandla asked me several times if I was really gonna (sic) ruin his career being a Medical doctor and that he was a well know (sic) pillar in the community," Trooper Street wrote in the report. "He further stated that one day I may need his assistance or one of his co workers and implied he would not render care if I needed it."
According to his arrest report, Patibandla was charged with three misdemeanors: DUI 1st, failure to maintain control, and failure to provide THP with a blood alcohol sample. Patibandla is scheduled to appear in court of December 14, 2010.
State of Franklin Healthcare Associates did not return phone calls requesting comment today. However, Mountain States Health Alliance shared some thoughts. Aside from Johnson City Internal Medicine Associates, Patibandla is authorized to treat patients inside Johnson City Medical Center and Franklin Woods Community Hospital.
"We expect all physicains to treat all patients in our facilities equally without bias," MSHA Marketing and Communications Corporate Director James Watson said. "We have a medical staff committee that reviews these types of issues if appropriate. Once we have the information surrounding this situation we will then determine if we should forward this to the medical staff committee."
Requests to view and listen to the video and audio from the traffic stop were denied by the Tennessee Department of Safety.
"The video/audio of the arrest of Kiran Patibandla is considered evidence as part of the file for the court proceedings," Public Affairs Director Mike Browning said. "The video/pics are confidential as part of the prosecuting files and therefore cannot be released to you at this time."
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