(AP) — A Delaware judge is holding a hearing in an appeal involving three doctors who were disciplined by state regulators.

Wednesday's Superior Court hearing involves Steven Grossinger, Bruce Grossinger and Jason Brajer of Grossinger Neuropain Specialists, which has offices in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

The three were reprimanded and fined last year by Delaware's medical licensing board for unprofessional conduct likely to deceive or harm the public.

The secretary of state's office later fined and suspended certain prescribing privileges of the doctors after concluding that they had improperly administered pain medications to a patient with a history of substance abuse. The man later died of a heroin overdose.

The judge has halted imposition of the secretary of state's sanctions pending the outcome of the appeal.