A Washington state anesthetist accused of stealing controlled and other substances and repeatedly drugging his wife over a period of years so he could have sex with her has been jailed since August, and this week had his license suspended by the state's Department of Health.

Adam B. Archibald, CRNA, allegedly administered the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam and other substances to a woman referred to as "E.A." in the health department's statement of charges, from as early as 2010 until July 9, 2014, "for the stated purpose of making her more amenable to sexual relations." During this time, she thought her "sleep episodes," which lasted as long as 36 hours, were caused by a medical disorder.

Eventually, however, she went to police, and Mr. Archibald, 47, was arrested on Aug. 23. He remains in Yakima County (Wash.) jail, in lieu of $500,000 bail, according to news reports, and faces several felony charges, including assault and imprisonment with sexual motivation, and theft and drug-possession charges.

Mr. Archibald, who'd been employed by Physician Anesthesia Associates in Yakima and who was working under contract at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, is accused of stealing controlled substances morphine and ketamine and numerous prescription drugs from the hospital.

A health department spokesman says the agency was first notified about the case in late October and that once the department worked through its own investigation, separate from the one being carried out by law enforcement, it took the "most aggressive, most forceful action" it could. Mr. Archibald has 20 days to contest the suspension.

Jim Burger