RI suspends surgeon it says injected drugs

The state Department of Health said Thursday that Dr. Michael Coburn admitted to injecting himself with the drugs. Officials say he disclosed he had done so after another doctor saw him take syringes from an operating room and a search of the room where he slept at the hospital turned up needles, syringes, blood-soaked gauze and vial caps from one of the medications. He said the items were his.

Coburn was placed on a medical leave of absence at Kent Hospital on Nov. 15 and has not seen patients since.

A message was left at telephone listing in Coburn's name.