California IN BRIEF : OAKLAND : Doctor’s Surrender Expected in Sex Case

A psychiatrist accused of trading drugs for sex and of billing the state for the swap under the guise of therapy is expected to surrender Monday, according to state officials. “The state was paying for these little trysts,” Deputy Atty. Gen. Christiana Tiedemann said. “Not only was he doing it, but we were paying for it.” Bail of $37,400 has been set for Paul Lowinger, 68, who has offices in Oakland and San Francisco. Lowinger, who allegedly had sex with five female patients between 1982 and 1991, attempted to seduce a female undercover investigator in February, according to Alameda County Municipal Court documents. Court records describe the patients as drug addicts and prostitutes. He was charged Thursday with inappropriate sexual activity with patients, prescribing controlled substances without legitimate medical purposes, filing false medical claims and 16 counts of grand theft.