The Montana Medical Board has unanimously voted to revoke the medical license of Dr. Thomas Weiner, a former cancer specialist in Helena, following serious allegations of misconduct that included prescribing unnecessary treatments and harming patients. The decision, made on March 15, 2024, comes after a thorough investigation into Weiner’s practices, which indicated that he violated professional conduct standards.
During the board’s meeting, four members of the adjudication panel accepted findings that Weiner provided improper care to at least seven patients. One case involved a patient who was not diagnosed with cancer but died as a result of chemotherapy toxicity. Another patient remained under Weiner’s care for several years, receiving opioid prescriptions without a cancer diagnosis. Jennifer Stallkamp, legal counsel for the board, stated that Weiner is permanently prohibited from practicing medicine in Montana and will not seek licensure in the future.
Stallkamp acknowledged that Weiner disputes several allegations but recognized that he agreed the board had sufficient evidence against him. As part of the agreement, Weiner has surrendered his medical license. The implications of this revocation regarding his ability to practice in other states remain unclear, as Stallkamp did not provide further details on that matter.
This decision follows a tumultuous history for the physician, who had previously drawn both admiration and criticism during his more than two decades as Helena’s primary oncologist. St. Peter’s Health, the main healthcare provider in the area, terminated Weiner in 2020 after identifying multiple concerning incidents in patient care. The hospital reported that patients received treatments not clinically indicated, along with failures to comply with laws on narcotic prescriptions and inadequate referrals to specialists.
Despite this, Weiner maintained a loyal following in the community, with residents expressing support through signs that read “WE STAND WITH DR. TOM WEINER.” His legal disputes with the hospital culminated in an unsuccessful lawsuit regarding his termination. Additionally, St. Peter’s Health agreed to pay a settlement of $11 million to the federal government related to billing practices linked to Weiner.
The board’s license revocation comes less than a year after Weiner’s license was renewed for a two-year term, a decision that sparked confusion among former patients and community members alike. Investigations into Weiner’s practices intensified following an article by the news outlet ProPublica, which published findings related to a series of suspicious patient deaths associated with his care.
In response to these allegations, the Montana Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into Weiner, although no charges have been filed. The board’s recent decision to revoke his license has been met with relief from some former patients and their families, who previously expressed concerns about the potential for ongoing harm.
During the hearing, Stallkamp outlined the details of the alleged misconduct, citing specific cases of substandard care. One patient, referred to as “Patient 1,” was treated with chemotherapy despite having no confirmed cancer diagnosis, ultimately leading to their death from chemotherapy-related complications. The account closely resembled that of Scot Warwick, a Helena resident who passed away under similar circumstances. His widow, Lisa Warwick, expressed relief at the board’s decision, indicating that it brings a sense of justice for those affected by Weiner’s practices.
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the agency responsible for overseeing medical licensing, did not respond to inquiries about the investigation timeline or any previous complaints regarding Weiner’s care. The board had received over 100,000 pages of documentation from St. Peter’s Health in 2021, which may have triggered the review of Weiner’s medical practices.
As the medical community processes this significant ruling, the focus remains on the impact of Weiner’s actions on his former patients and their families. The decision to revoke his license marks a critical step in addressing the concerns raised by those who came forward with allegations of malpractice during his tenure in Helena.
