ROARING FORK BROADCASTING COMPANY
An anesthesiologist accused of over-drugging and having unlawful sexual contact with patients of a ketamine clinic he operated in Glenwood Springs has been dodging service of a civil lawsuit in Texas, a recent court filing alleges.
Eight plaintiffs, referred to in a lawsuit as “Jane Does” to conceal their identities, sued Dr. Mark Rollin Young, 55, in August in Garfield County District Court. Allegations include sexual assault and medical negligence.
Separate from the civil lawsuit filed by the Jane Does, Glenwood Springs police arrested Young in April on criminal sexual contact charges related to his alleged conduct with five patients at his ketamine clinic.
Young, who was released from custody after his arrest on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond, is scheduled to appear at an arraignment hearing in the criminal case in Garfield County District Court on Thursday. Previously scheduled arraignment hearings Aug. 22 and Oct. 24 were postponed, according to court records.
Meanwhile, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 17, eight attempts to serve Young with the civil lawsuit at his Glenwood Springs apartment were unsuccessful, according to a motion filed by the Doe plaintiffs on Nov. 8. It was later “confirmed,” according to the motion, that Young moved out of his Glenwood Springs residence on Sept. 1.
His relocation to Dallas was allowed by the Garfield County District criminal court so that he could aid a family member with failing health, the motion said. Getting the lawsuit to Young at the Dallas relative’s address did not work through four tries to serve him from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, the motion said.
“Plaintiffs have exhausted all known avenues of direct service on Defendants,” said the motion, which asks a judge to allow the Jane Doe team to serve Young’s defense lawyer in the criminal case.
The motion is pending before 9th Judicial District Judge Elise Victoria Myer.
Denver defense lawyer Angela Mae Campbell, who represents Young in the criminal matter, declined last week to comment about the case or any correspondence she might have had with her client. Deputy District Attorney Reede Neutze, who is prosecuting the case, also would not comment.
Young received his license to practice medicine in Colorado in July 2006, according to public records. In Glenwood Springs, he owned and operated Apex Health Alliance, which did business under the names Apex Ketamine Therapy and Apex Mobile Anesthesia and Sedation Services.
His patients traveled from throughout Colorado and elsewhere to receive infusions of Ketamine to treat ailments such as chronic physical pain, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, PTSD from sexual trauma and migraine headaches, among others.
The business advertised that “Apex delivers unparalleled compassion and expertise in treating patients with ketamine fusion therapy,” the lawsuit states.
The suit recounts the allegations of eight Jane Does who experienced different and similar forms of indecent treatment from Young, which included him talking to them about masturbation, kissing them on their neck without their consent, fondling them and over-drugging them. One patient in the suit alleged that he secreted his bodily fluids on her while she was being treated.
The doctor allegedly carried out the actions from 2020 to 2023, according to the suit, which makes claims for sexual assault, negligence and premesis liability against Young.
“As a direct and proximate result of the conduct of Defendants, Plaintiffs have suffered significant injuries and damages, including, but not limited to, severe emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of personal security, fear, intrusive memories of the event involving Defendant Young, and other psychological and emotional injuries. Plaintiffs will continue to suffer such non- economic damages and losses in the future,” says an amended version of the complaint dated Sept. 26.
Front Range law firm Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine P.C., which represents six of the Jane Does, declined comment last week. The Gold Law Firm in Greenwood Village represents the two other Jane Does.
Young also allegedly treated some patients while he also was under the influence, a claim that was reviewed by the Colorado Medical Board in March 2023. Young did not respond to a board order to undergo a physical and mental exam by the Colorado Physician Health Program. He denied the allegations but agreed to not practice as a physician, under an April 18 agreement with the Colorado Medical Board, for an indefinite period of time.
The interim agreement did not constitute a disciplinary action or finding that Young engaged in unprofessional conduct. The matter with Young remains open with the board until a final disposition is made, which also investigated claims of sexual misconduct against him. An investigation into those claims did not turn up conclusive evidence, according to medical board records.
“Nothing in this interim agreement shall constitute disciplinary action, a finding that respondent (Young) has engaged in unprofessional conduct, or any admission by respondent of unprofessional conduct,” the agreement says. “There have been no final determinations regarding respondent (Young) professional competence or professional conduct.”