A Kentucky surgeon who had a cocktail of drugs in his system during surgeries in May has his license back after staying clean for 90 days.

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure gave orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Heilig his license back during a Thursday morning hearing.

The board deliberated for 26 seconds.

A nurse in the operating room told the medical licensure board Dr. Heilig was "talking weird," "stumbling with his eyes closed and mumbling" and "almost fell off a stool." A drug screen that day showed oxycodone and generic Xanax in his system, among other similar drugs. The only prescription he was able to show the drug screen lab was one for oxycodone from 2009.

The order also included the stipulation that he could get his license back if he stayed clean for 90 days.

The people who took part in the interview are working on or have already filed malpractice lawsuits.

Dr. Heilig was employed at Kentucky Orthopedic Associates during the incident. They had no comment on him no longer working at the practice. While the surgery took place in the operating room at Clark Regional Medical Center, he was not employed there. Instead, it's common practice for independent physicians to have privileges to use hospital facilities.

Hospitals will still have to grant Heilig privileges in order for him to operate again.

"Dr. Heilig does not have privileges at Clark Regional Medical Center," a hospital spokesperson said. "As a matter of practice, we do not comment on matters related to any current or former member of our medical staff, so we are unable to provide additional information."

Heilig would not comment to WKYT Investigates on the accusations or if he plans to practice again following the board's decision.