Dr. Robert Perry followup

More is being learned Thursday about a local doctor who surrendered his medical license.

It is a story WWAY broke Wednesday night and is a Newschannel 3 exclusive.

Robert Perry, a general practitioner, will face a Gaston County Grand Jury on suspicion of illegally prescribing medication.

Robert Perry voluntarily surrendered his medical license Tuesday, one day before he was scheduled to be in a Gaston County court house.

Robert Perry’s Odgen practice, the Pee Dee Clinic, is closed with only a letter on the door and a message on the phone instructing patients to call a number for a referral.

In a phone interview last night, Perry said he closed the clinic because of medical problems, but according to court documents, Robert Perry was scheduled to appear in Gaston County court on four counts of obtaining property by false pretense and one count of prescribing a controlled substance without a legal medical purpose.

Gastonia detectives said Perry was involved with a woman who was using his prescription pad to write out drug prescriptions and fill them at a local drug store. They also allege that Perry wrote prescriptions for Hydrocodone to the woman’s father, who was never a patient of his, and the woman would pick up the pills and take them for recreational use. Detectives notified the state medical board.

The board confirmed receipt of Perry’s medical license, saying voluntary surrender occurs “Pending or during an investigation. Surrender does not preclude the board bringing charges against the practitioner.”

The Clerk of Gaston County Superior Court said today that Robert Perry’s grand jury trial date has not been set.