9 Investigates: Medical Center that offered hormone replacement

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A former Charlotte doctor's office offered to boost your energy and make you feel younger, but Channel 9 uncovered that patients may not know the hormone treatment therapy they received could cause health problems.

Eyewitness News found out how North Carolina's medical board took action.

Charlotte residents may be familiar with HRC Medical Center that offered hormone replacement treatment last fall.

When Eyewitness News found a North Carolina Medical Board order from October requiring that HRC's Medical Director Dr. John Murphy Jr. disassociate himself from the practice, Eyewitness News starting digging further at the State Medical Board office in Raleigh.

Board attorney Marcus Jimison said HRC doctors prescribed patients hormone therapy even though their levels were normal.

"They are paying for this and it is not cheap. Yet they are not being told there are serious health consequences," said Jimison.

He said those possible side effects can include cancer, heart disease and blood clots, plus other issues when hormone levels are too high.

Jimison said some HRC patients experienced those exact problems.

"Then when they started developing female characteristics, HRC would prescribe Famara, a cancer drug, used off label to counteract these side effects," he said.

Eyewitness News tried to reach Dr. Murphy's attorney, but he did not return any of the calls.

Murphy's medical license is active, so Eyewitness News went to the current office he lists with the medical board – it was empty.

Eyewitness News went to an address listed to Murphy and learned that he is not the first to face discipline while serving as medical director of HRC.

The medical board disciplined two former HRC medical directors, doctors Arjumand Syed and Clarence Washington for prescribing and allowing similar types of hormone treatment and the paper trail of problems traveled to Tennessee where its attorney general obtained a temporary injunction against HRC and its officers Don and Dr. Dan Hale.

Dale Hale's application to practice medicine in North Carolina was denied.

"We found all of these problems with him. His felony conviction for health care fraud, his practice model, not disclosing things on his application, practicing medicine in North Carolina without a license," said Jimison.

He said that is why Dr. Hale hired North Carolina doctors to run his business.

At the Park Road location where HRC operated, Eyewitness News found HRC signs, but a company inside called Legacy Medical Centers of Charlotte. Eyewitness News also noticed the phone number for Legacy is the same from the HRC commercials.

The clinic director, Andy Mark, said most of the office staff is the same, but Legacy is not affiliated with HRC.

His statement said, "Legacy is a new medical practice that has no affiliation with HRC. Legacy will not be owned or operated by anyone affiliated with HRC and the new ownership will work with the NC Medical Board to ensure that the practice operates in accordance with the laws, rules and position statements of the North Carolina Medical Board. Legacy is committed to providing excellent medical care to its patients."

Mark also said, "The new ownership will work with the NC Medical Board to ensure that the practice operates in accordance with the laws, rules and position statements of the North Carolina Medical Board."

The state medical board can't guarantee other doctors don't prescribe hormones like HRC did, but Jimison said if they receive any complaints they will investigate and take action.

The board attorney said before you choose a doctor you should investigate his or her background.

WSOC