San Diego

A judicial order restraining the practice of an El Cajon doctor charged with illegally selling drugs to his patients remained in place after a hearing Friday before San Diego Superior Court Judge Mack Lovett. Lovett had told the attorney for Dr. John Welch, 54, that he would consider allowing the physician to resume practicing medicine before his formal license revocation hearing, set for April 23. But Lovett said Friday he wanted to ensure that Welch could not prescribe any medication until the hearing, and said it would be impractical for the doctor to see patients in the interim. Welch, who has practiced in El Cajon for 25 years, is the defendant in a lawsuit filed by the California attorney general’s office. Deputy Atty. Gen. Holly Wilkens said the medical license revocation hearing before the state Board of Medical Quality Assurance will be held at the State Building, 1350 Front St. Testimony is expected to last several days.