MEDICAL DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

The Medical Board of California licenses physicians and other medical professionals. The board also investigates medical complaints and issues disciplinary actions. The most serious penalties include license revocation, suspension and probation.

These are the Los Angeles County medical professionals subject to serious disciplinary actions between Feb . 1 and June 30, 1990, according to medical board documents. Final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

DOCTORS:

Stephen C. Acosta MD, Redondo Beach. Gross negligence as emergency room physician in failing to admit unstable patient, 67, with internal bleeding, and instead referring patient to a county facility. Physician’s concern for costs to the family interfered with his medical judgment. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for one year. Effective June 7.

Martin F. Bain MD, Torrance. Criminal conviction for driving under the influence of a drug and illegal possession of a hypodermic syringe. Impairment through drug use, prescribing drugs without prior exam and medical indication. License revoked. Effective June 14.

Reuben Castillo MD, Pomona. Incompetence in diagnosing infection of female reproductive tract; injecting drugs to treat bursitis of shoulder without examination. Neither admits nor denies charge of sexual misconduct with patient. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days. Placed on probation for five years. Effective June 6.

Thomas W. Clark MD, Santa Monica. Violated probation for prior discipline. False statements in application for malpractice insurance, conviction for attempted theft. License revoked. Effective June 21.

Archibald F. Forster MD, Long Beach. Gross negligence and incompetence in administering spinal anesthesia prematurely without medical indication, thus causing loss of the ability to voluntarily expel the fetus in four delivery cases, resulting in injury at birth. License revoked. Effective March 18.

Leonard L. Harris MD, Los Angeles. Repeated negligent acts in prescribing drugs without clear medical indication. Recently acquitted in a companion criminal case. Placed on probation for five years. Effective May 7.

Wilbert C. Jordan MD, Los Angeles. Federal conviction for filing false Medi-Care claim. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for five years. Effective May 1.

Joel M. Kowan MD, Los Angeles. Excessive prescribing of codeine with Tylenol and other controlled drugs without legitimate medical purposes, constituting repeated negligent acts. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 90 days. Placed on probation for five years. Effective May 3.

Bang Quoc Ly MD, Hawthorne. Federal conviction for filing false Medicaid claims. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days. Physician placed on probation for five years. Effective May 31.

Mahendra C. Udani MD, Redondo Beach. Sexual misconduct with female patient. Gross negligence. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for seven years. Effective April 30.

Lusik S. Varakian MD, Los Angeles. Incompetence in failing to properly evaluate, diagnose and treat a breast mass on a female patient. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days. Placed on probation for five years. Effective June 4.

ACUPUNCTURISTS:

Dong H. Choi, Los Angeles. Conviction of misdemeanor bribery to obtain acupuncture license without legitimately passing the examination. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for five years. Effective April 19.

Myong H. Kang, Los Angeles. Conviction of misdemeanor bribery to obtain acupuncture license without passing the examination honestly. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for five years. Effective April 18.

Un S. Kim, Los Angeles. Conviction of misdemeanor bribery to obtain acupuncture license without passing the examination honestly. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for five years. Effective April 18.

Young S. Kim, Los Angeles. Conviction of misdemeanor bribery to obtain acupuncture license without passing the examination honestly. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for five years. Effective April 19.

PODIATRIST:

Leslie E. Lisnek, Arcadia. Gross negligence and excessive use of diagnostic procedures with numerous patients. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for six months. Placed on probation for five years. Effective March 23. License revoked for not complying with probation. Effective June 6.

RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS:

Billy R. Anderson, Lomita. Conviction for receiving stolen property, grand theft and petty theft. License revoked. Effective April 15.

Elena A. Guzman, Long Beach. Procured license through false application concealing conviction for petty theft. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for three years. Effective May 8.

Jack L. Silvas, Santa Monica. Procured license through false application concealing several criminal convictions. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for three years. Effective Feb. 21.

Michael A. Tucker, Pasadena. Procured license with false application concealing conviction for being drunk in public. After licensing, conviction for battery. Revocation of license stayed. Placed on probation for three years. Effective April 13.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.