The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the pharmacist license of Mahmoud A. Fardous, R.Ph. of Dearborn and the medical license Milagros R. Ebreo, M.D. of Port Sanilac. The MDCH Bureau of Health Professions orders a summary suspension when it believes that the public's health, safety, and welfare warrant emergency action.

On Jan. 12, 2009, MDCH issued an order to summarily suspend Fardous' pharmacist license pursuant to the Public Health Code. On the same day, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Ebreo's medical license. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Ebreo's license. After a recent hearing, Fardous' license remained suspended.

The suspension was a result of Fardous, 28, engaging in a conspiracy with multiple individuals, including Ebreo, 68, to dispense fraudulent controlled substance prescriptions for profit.

Between the period of March 2007, and Oct. 2008, Ebreo, 68, prescribed 207,313 OxyContin tablets, 194,514 Xanax tablets, 66,529 Vicodin tablets and 2,761 bottles of promethazine. Between June 5, 2008, and Oct. 28, 2008, as the contractual medical director for Quick Response Medical Professionals, in Southfield, Michigan, Ebreo fraudulently prescribed a total of 28,188 oxycodone tablets, 8,710 hydrocodone tablets, 26,839 Xanax tablets, and 495 bottles of promethazine with Codeine to patients who were being paid $50.00 to be examined.

On Dec. 15, 2008, a criminal complaint was issued in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, against Fardous and Ebreo for conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances. The criminal matter for the cases remains pending.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Licensing.