STANDING UP FOR TALLEY

When it comes to defending "a very loving, caring,
warm-hearted, smart and intelligent doctor," a place
to sit is the least of Dianne Strickland's worries.

There will be no empty seats, a spokesman for the N.C. Medical Board
said, when Dr. Joseph Talley of Grover faces the board today to answer
charges that could end his 35-year medical career.

In October, the board accused Talley, 64, of misprescribing addictive
painkillers, violating medical ethics, unprofessional conduct and
deviating from standard care of patients, including prescribing
painkillers to patients without giving adequate examinations or taking
proper history.

If proven to the board's satisfaction, the allegations could cost the
Grover physician his license to practice medicine.

Mrs. Strickland wants to be there, seat or not, she
said.

"People don't know all the good stuff about him. They don't make
doctors like Dr. Talley anymore," said Mrs. Strickland, who claims
that Talley's knowledge and intervention saved her brother 25 years
ago and that his caring saved her husband from suicide.

Even if she can't get into the room, she said, "With all the media
attention, that's why I thought it would be a good idea. I'd speak my
piece. He's saved a lot of people."

Time off from work and the trip expense are not her top concerns, Mrs.
Strickland said.

"I don't really have the money, but it is going to go for something,
and why not for something I believe in?"

Mrs. Strickland said she and an aunt, who also has been treated by
Talley, would drive to Raleigh.

"We're going on our own," she said. "I have a lot of faith in
him."

She also has heard about a group of patients who wanted to charter a
bus.

"They were outside his office, getting names, telephone numbers of
people so they could charter a bus to go to Raleigh. They were talking
busloads."

Mrs. Strickland last talked to Talley Friday, she said, when she went
to his office.

"No, it was not for a medical appointment," she said. "I just wanted
to see how he looked, how he was holding up. He is so stressed. This
has really got me worried."

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is also investigating
Talley, but no charges have been filed. The DEA did pull Talley's
license to prescribe narcotics in late January.

The medical board's hearing has been postponed twice and now is
scheduled for an unprecedented three days, which could start at 10
a.m.

The N.C. Medical Board began its bi-monthly meeting Wednesday. The
board customarily uses the first day for routine business, such as
approving new medical license requests, said public affairs director
Dale Breaden.

Breaden said that if routine items remain for today, he still expects
the hearing to begin between 10 a.m. and noon.

Talley and his wife, Sara, have been in Raleigh since Tuesday,
preparing for the sessions.

An answering machine at Talley's office in Grover says the practice
will be closed until Monday at 8 a.m.

His former partner, Dr. Richard V. Crowley, is among those subpoenaed
to testify before the board. Others on the list include
anesthesiologist Dr. Richard L. Rauck of Bowman Gray Medical Center;
Tom Reedling, a special agent with the N.C. Medicaid Investigation
Unit; Dr. Richie Lewis of Charlotte, an industrial physician; and Dr.
Jesse E. Roberts Jr. of Efland, a doctor who reviews medical charts
for investigators.

The board's charges are posted online at www. docboard.org/nc .