On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, a state medical board ordered professional probation for the medical license of Tennessee Senator Dr. Joey Hensley, a punishment described by his attorney as "the death penalty" for Hensley's decades-long career as a small town doctor.

Hensley admitted to providing medical care and prescribing opioids and other controlled substances to several family members. In some cases, the prescriptions were not documented.

The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners unanimously found Hensley to be in violation of medical ethical standards, then sentenced Hensley to three year...