AUGUSTA – A physician’s assistant from Litchfield was barred from practicing medicine this week after he was charged criminally with drug trafficking.

The state Board of Licensure in Medicine voted Tuesday to suspend Richard Brackett from practicing medicine anywhere in Maine.

At the Tuesday meeting, the board reviewed Brackett’s recent arrest on a charge of unlawful trafficking in drugs. The board determined that the arrest presents a sufficient possible danger to patients to warrant the immediate suspension of Brackett’s license.

The case will next go to an adjudicatory hearing within the next 30 days. Meanwhile, Board of Licensure officials advised Brackett’s patients to contact their primary care physician or health insurance provider to make arrangements for future medical care.

Details about Brackett’s arrest were not available Wednesday night.