Board Suspends Doctor's License After Intoxication Reports

EMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Board of Physicians has ordered an Emmitsburg doctor to surrender her medical license.

The Frederick News Post reports the board ordered Dr. Grace Ziem to surrender her license Dec. 11. The order was issued following reports of her drinking during office hours, inappropriate prescription writing and other behavior including disputes that Frederick County sheriff's deputies have investigated and filed reports about.

The board says it had enough evidence from witnesses and toxicology reports that Ziem was "habitually intoxicated" in her office.

At a Dec. 16 hearing on the issue, Ziem's attorney, James Temple, presented evidence in her defense, but the board upheld the suspension. Temple did not comment to the newspaper.

Ziem has had a license to practice in 1975.