Fall River doctor has practicing license temporarily suspended after arrest

A Fall River doctor has had his license suspended after a board hearing last week.

William E. O’Connor, M.D., had his license to practice temporarily suspended on February 6th by the Board of Registration in Medicine.

According to the Board, on or about September 27, 2019, the Orleans District Court issued a Straight Warrant for O’Connor’s arrest, charging him with trespass, violation of an Abuse Prevention Order, and an attempt to commit (breaking and entering).

The Board of Registration in Medicine stated the victim was a former patient of O’Connor who had obtained a restraining order at the end of May 2018.

The Board determined that a temporary suspension was warranted for the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

According to a report of the hearing, it wasn’t O’Connor’s first brush with the law.

On or about September 29, 2001, O’Connor was arrested and later charged with operating under the influence of liquor (OUI), negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and marked lanes violation.

In a 2002 bench trial, the judge dismissed the OUI charges and continued the negligent operation of a motor vehicle charges without a finding after O’Connor admitted sufficient facts to support the charges, and dismissed the marked lanes violation charge.
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O’Connor later submitted his license renewal application and on question 17 of the 2003 license renewal application he was asked, “Have you been charged with any criminal offense?” O’Connor answered “No” to Question 17 and did not disclose his 2001 arrest or criminal charges on his 2003 license renewal application. On January 21, 2016, the Board reprimanded and fined O’Connor for failure to disclose the OUI conviction.

The 71-year-old O’Connor has been licensed to practice medicine in Massachusetts under certificate since 1980 and is affiliated with Truesdale Clinic in Fall River.