Doctor Accused of Tryst With Patient

A prominent La Jolla physician who, until he resigned in December, headed a nationally recognized drug-treatment program at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, was named a defendant in a malpractice complaint filed Tuesday in Superior Court.

The suit charges Dr. Ronald Mineo, former director of clinical services for the McDonald Center for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Treatment, with entering into a sexual relationship with a female patient and with increasing her chemical dependency.

James E. McElroy, attorney for the plaintiffs, who have been identified only as Jane and John Doe (her husband), said Tuesday that Mineo “attempted to treat my client with intensive psychotherapy and hypnosis, even though he’s not a psychiatrist.”

“And, as the therapy continued, he coerced her into a sexual relationship,” McElroy said.

McElroy said Mineo, who is in his mid-50s, resigned his post late last year--shortly after he was informed by the plaintiffs that a malpractice action would soon be filed. Mineo was unavailable for comment Tuesday night, but a spokesman for Scripps Memorial Hospitals said it is “important to note” that the suit was filed against Mineo and not the McDonald Center.

“Dr. Mineo resigned Dec. 8 for what he called personal reasons,” said Michael Bardin, director of communication for Scripps Memorial Hospitals. “We have read the complaint, the court documents. . . . We’ve read as much as the attorneys have given us. Dr. Mineo was very highly thought of. He has a number of awards and recognitions from different groups and professional organizations in the field of alcoholism and drug treatment, and he’s known in particular for helping the (chemically) impaired physician.”

Mineo’s attorney, Monty McIntyre, reached at home Tuesday night, said, “Dr. Mineo will be contesting the allegations in the complaint and will defend himself vigorously. That’s about all I can say at this point.”

Mineo told The Times in a 1985 interview that he was a recovering drug addict and alcoholic who first began using drugs as a physician at Camp Pendleton in the mid-1960s.

He discussed his involvement with drugs at that time: “I was going through a very traumatic divorce. My father had just died. And I was solely responsible for my two very young children.”

He told the interviewer that he developed a 10-year dependence on Demerol, Talwin and, later, alcohol.

McElroy said his client, now 38, first began seeing Mineo in 1986. He said the sexual relationship lasted from May, 1989 until November, when his client ended it.

“Her husband was devastated, and she felt incredible remorse and guilt,” McElroy said. “Mineo assured her that a sexual relationship with him would be good for her. Her husband was overseas at the time on a six-month assignment.

“On one occasion, she almost successfully committed suicide because she wanted to end the relationship, but each time Mineo persuaded her to continue. Once the (sexual) relationship started, her condition rapidly deteriorated, and she became more and more chemically dependent.”

McElroy said his client contacted Mineo because she had become chemically dependent and experts in treating chemically dependent people had recommended that she see him.

McElroy said the lawsuit alleges that Mineo inappropriately prescribed narcotics for his client, and that they furthered her addiction.