Nashville physician Cynthia L. Shearer has been barred from medical practice in an emergency action by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners.

The Board found that Shearer, who has a sole practice in obstetrics/gynecology located in the Baptist North Tower medical office building, 2011 Murphy Avenue, was "placing her patients at imminent risk" by practicing medicine while "mentally or physically unable" to do so safely, according to a statement issued by the state's Department of Health.

The Board also ruled that Shearer had engaged in "unprofessional, dishonorable and unethical conduct" as well as "gross malpractice, or a pattern of continued or repeated malpractice, ignorance, negligence or incompetence in the course of medical practice."

The statement gave no details of the doctor's alleged transgressions, and department media representatives were unavailable this afternoon to elaborate.

Shearer was first licensed to practice medicine in Tennessee in 1988. Information gathered by NashvillePost.com indicates that she is a graduate of Ohio State University's medical school and was board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, with no prior record of disciplinary actions.

She is listed as a network provider by several insurance plans in Middle Tennessee, including Blue Cross-Blue Shield's Blue Network, Great-West Healthcare, HealthSpring EPO Plus, PPO*USA and Signature Health Alliance.