Psychiatrist in Sex Case Loses License : Medical Board Also Suspends Doctor Convicted of Medi-Cal Fraud

A Santa Ana psychiatrist, who last year was found by a judge to have had sexual relations with a patient during therapy sessions, has been suspended from practice for six months by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance.

The board also issued a three-month suspension against a La Habra doctor because of his 1985 conviction for Medi-Cal fraud.

The board accused Santa Ana psychiatrist Jeffrey Moran, 40, of sexual misconduct and hugging, kissing and having sexual intercourse during a patient during her $65-an-hour therapy sessions in 1982.

In addition, the medical board accused Moran of gross negligence for permitting the patient to bring a bottle of wine to her treatment sessions and allowing her to drink “a cup or two” of the wine at those sessions.

Moran denied the accusations but said he did not wish to comment in detail on his suspension. “My hands are tied behind my back,” he said. “All I can tell you is I didn’t do it.”

Under terms of the medical board’s Aug. 26 order, Moran is suspended from practice for six months and placed on probation for seven years. He must also undergo a psychiatric evaluation, complete a course in medical ethics and spend at least 40 hours during each probation year in continuing education for psychiatrists.

Also, the board ruled, when Moran resumes his practice, he must be monitored by another physician, who will make periodic reports to the medical board.

The ruling followed a September, 1986, hearing in Santa Ana after which administrative law judge Frank Britt ruled that Moran had had sexual relations with the patient in his office on two occasions.

Moran “did resist many of the sexual advances made by his patient and told her that any sexual relations between them would be destructive to her therapy,” Britt wrote. “However, respondent did succumb to his sexual desires to the detriment of the patient.”

Moran’s patient was reported to be under the care of another psychiatrist and in need of therapy for another two years.

The medical board also suspended La Habra physician Murray F. Zane’s license for three months and placed him on probation for five years because of his 1985 conviction on two counts of filing false Medi-Cal claims.

Zane pleaded guilty in February, 1985, to two counts of grand theft involving a Blue Shield and Medi-Cal claim he allegedly submitted for psychiatric services that were not performed.

Zane could not be reached for comment Monday. Under terms of an agreement reached with the medical board, Zane must Monday also perform 16 hours of community service work each month during his probation and must take a course in medical ethics.