Troubled doctor’s license revoked

Woman died during experimental stem cell treatment; four malpractice suits involved overprescribed medications

JACKSONVILLE — Florida on Friday took away the license of a Tampa-area doctor, ending the career of a man state health regulators allowed to keep practicing for years despite accusations he mishandled the care of multiple patients who died.

The latest action against Dr. Mark Kantzler centered on his treatment of Margaret Mroz, 69, who died in Kantzler’s Sarasota health care clinic during an experimental stem cell procedure in June 2013.

By the time Mroz died, Kantzler had settled four malpractice lawsuits, three of which involved accusations he overprescribed pain medication to patients who overdosed and died. The state had twice suspended his license. And even though state health regulators within months determined that he likely mishandled Mroz’s care, they let him continue to practice for four more years.

The length of time it took health regulators to take action against Kantzler is not unusual. A South Florida Sun Sentinel investigation published in October found that Florida regularly allows doctors to continue to see, treat and operate on people for years after accusing them of endangering patients.

Mroz suffered a seizure during the stem cell procedure and her husband called for paramedics to rush to Kantzler’s clinic, according to state records.

When Mroz’s husband called 911, Kantzler refused to get on the phone with the dispatcher, according to state records. Later

in the call, Kantzler’s assistant told the dispatcher that paramedics were not needed. They had to bang on the clinic’s locked door to get to Mroz.

Kantzler didn’t send Mroz’s body to be autopsied, notify state authorities she had died in his care or mention her death in his record of her visit that day. His records falsely stated that he gave her a shot and sent her home, a state investigation found.

Kantzler, 64, in September agreed to stop practicing and give up his license instead of fighting the Florida Department of Health’s charges from Mroz’s case.

The state Board of Osteopathic Medicine on Friday approved the agreement. Kantzler was not at the board meeting and declined to comment when reached by phone.

Michael Mroz, Margaret’s husband of nearly 50 years, filed a complaint with the state health department soon after his wife died. He said it was “ludicrous” how long it took for the case to be resolved but that he felt a sense of relief that Kantzler was giving up his license.

“There’s still a lot of bottled-up anger, but I’ve got to say I did feel that I accomplished something,” he said. “And I did feel that she’d be happy that I did get that far.”