NASHVILLE (AP) — A medical board has found a Tennessee Republican lawmaker violated ethical standards while acting as a physician.

The unanimous decision Wednesday by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners came after a three-day hearing and led the panel to order professional probation for the medical license of Tennessee Sen. Joey Hensley.

Hensley's attorney said during closing arguments in the case that it would force the lawmaker to close his office in the small town of Hohenwald.

Hensley admitted during the hearing to providing medical care and prescribing opioids to family members and a romantic partner, but insisted the treatment was unavoidable because he is the only doctor in the small town.

He later said he could have referred at least some relatives to a nurse practitioner and a doctor who routinely visit the town, the newspaper reported.

Doctors are mostly forbidden from providing medical care or medications to family members or romantic partners because of the risk of bias and abuse.

In addition to three years of probation, the board ordered Hensley to take classes on medical ethics and safe prescribing.