State regulators suspend Charlotte cosmetic surgeon for sleeping with two patients
A Charlotte plastic surgeon is serving a six-month suspension in North Carolina after sleeping with two of his patients.
The N.C. Medical Board, which regulates the practice of medicine in the state, indefinitely suspended Dr. William “Dale” Franks’ license to practice medicine in North Carolina on Nov. 1, records show.
The board could restore Franks’ credentials as soon as May 2 if the physician meets a series of stipulations.
Franks did not respond to a phone call by The Charlotte Observer to his Fort Mill office on Tuesday.
He began to run afoul of N.C. medical regulations in December 2017, when he performed a cosmetic surgical procedure on a woman identified in the medical board’s consent order as “Patient A.”
After the surgery, Franks gave the patient his personal cell number in case any complications arose.
Two months later, Franks and Patient A began exchanging text messages, which Franks said led to a “one-time sexual affair” in March 2018, board records show.
Afterward, the doctor and patient continued to exchange texts, including ones that discussed the possibilities that Franks would perform breast augmentation surgery on her and that they again would meet socially. Neither occurred, according to the consent order.
Franks met “Patient B” during the same time frame. She made her first appointment to see him in January 2018 to discuss her displeasure with a previous procedure by another physician. Again, Franks gave her his cell phone number in case of complications, records show.
In September 2019, the two began texting and speaking together regularly on his cell. In February 2020, the woman sent a gift and letter to Franks’ home.
While the two were romantically involved, according to the board’s consent order, Franks performed reconstructive surgery on the patient and later prescribed her medications when she came down with COVID-19.
The medical board says it learned of Franks’ misconduct in September 2020. He has no history of prior disciplinary problems in North Carolina, records show. Franks received his N.C. license in 2014.
To have it restored by May, Franks must meet a series of medical board demands. They include having a trained female chaperone present for all of his dealings with female patients.
Franks must also stop giving his cell number to female patients, or communicating with them by text or social media.
Finally, Franks must also read and comply with the board’s position statement on “Sexual Misconduct with Patients” while also completing a course on “professional boundaries and ethics.”
Failure to meet these or other board conditions could result in the further loss of his license to practice in North Carolina, the consent order says.
According to the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, Franks’ license to practice in that state remains in good standing.
He previously practiced in Iowa, which reports no public disciplinary actions against him.
This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 10:14 AM.
