Doctor Asks Judge to Reinstate Suspended License

A Del Mar doctor who claims to be on the brink of financial ruin urged a judge Friday to reinstate his medical license, even though he is accused of sexually molesting at least 10 female patients.

Dr. Dominick A. Ricci, a 44-year-old gastroenterologist with offices in Encinitas and La Jolla, has been under an injunction since March 26 that prevents him from practicing medicine.

The alleged victims in this case have accused Ricci of lingering over their rectal examination and raping three of them with his finger.

The women say the rectal examinations lasted as long as 90 seconds and often involved them moving into several different positions.

Ricci made his plea through his attorney, Paul J. Pfingst, to Administrative Law Judge Stephen E. Hjelt, during closing arguments in a five-week-long hearing.

“Your honor has, for all intents and purposes, Dr. Ricci’s life in his hand,” Pfingst said.

The Yale-trained physician, Pfingst argued, is the subject of unfounded charges leveled by investigators ignorant of the practices associated with rectal examinations.

Prosecutors are continuing to look into criminal charges against Ricci. Deputy Dist. Atty. Greg Walden was unavailable Friday to comment on the investigation.

Pfingst said his client would have a nurse present while conducting examinations of women and he would go as far as presenting every female patient with written notification of the allegations that have been made.

During the the hearing, Pfingst brought several doctors to the witness stand who he said testified that Ricci’s methods were sound.

Deputy Atty. Gen. Margaret Lafko scoffed at the defense position that three of the women simply imagined being penetrated.

Hjelt has 15 days to rule on the injunction against Ricci. The judge has the option of lifting the ban on his practice, calling for some easing of the prohibition or allowing him to practice unrestricted.

Ricci still faces action before the full Medical Board of California, which will determine if his license should be permanently taken away.