License restricted for Eastern WA doctor accused of wrong diagnoses, overprescribing

A doctor who practices medicine at the Liberty Clinic in Connell and Cheney, Wash., has restrictions temporarily placed on his medical license over treatment of patients for hypothyroidism.

The Washington Medical Commission claims some cases handled by Dr. Jon Marcus Ryam Mundall, 77, show a pattern of misdiagnosing thyroid disease and issues with prescribing thyroid medications.

He has prescribed higher than indicated doses, instructed patient to consume dangerous amounts of medication and refilled prescriptions without adequate follow-up monitoring, the commission said in statement of charges this month.

The Washington Medical Commission statement of charges listed seven patients for whom the commission had concerns over thyroid treatment.

In one case, it said a 16-year-old with lab work showing normal thyroid levels was taking up to 10 times the prescribed dose after the doctor told her to take more medication than prescribed, the commission alleged.

In another case, Mundall failed to recognize that a patient was experiencing clinical and laboratory signs of thyroid toxicity, including high blood pressure and upper abdominal pain, the commission alleged.

Some patients developed serious side effects, such as heart palpitations and conditions such as thyroid toxicity and hyperthyroidism, which happens when the thyroid releases more hormones than needed, the commission alleges.

Mundall has diagnosed and treated thyroid disease without corroborating laboratory findings and treated patients whose thyroid levels were within a normal range, according to the commission.

Medical restrictions

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, it restricted Mundall from diagnosing or treating thyroid disorders, pending further proceedings of the commission.

The doctor must refer patients suspected of a thyroid disorder to a doctor who is board certified in endocrinology, internal medicine or family medicine, according to the commission.

By mid March he must notify all patients for whom he currently prescribes thyroid medications that he can no longer prescribe the medications, and he must refer them to nearby doctors who can.

Mundall has been licensed to practice medicine in Washington state since 1985.

A staffer for Mundall said on Monday that he declined to comment while the investigation is ongoing.