Medical Disciplinary Actions

The Medical Board of California licenses physicians and other medical professionals. It 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 April 30, 1994, according to medical board documents. Final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

DOCTORS

Joseph T. Alfred, M.D., Los Angeles: Unprofessional conduct by the commission of an act involving dishonesty or corruption. He induced an elderly patient to extend him a loan on which he failed to make restitution. Revocation of license stayed; seven years probation. Effective March 25, 1994.

Hector H. Arnazzi, M.D., Torrance: Gross negligence, repeated negligent acts in his care of a patient. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended 30 days; three years probation. Effective March 11, 1994.

David C. Freeman, M.D., North Hollywood: Gross negligence, incompetence and dishonesty in arriving at unsupported diagnoses and unconventional and unnecessary therapies in the care of a patient. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended 30 days; five years probation. Effective March 25, 1994.

Timothy D. Germann, M.D., Mission Hills: Two convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol. Dishonesty in informing the court on matters concerning the first conviction at the time of the second alcohol-related conviction. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended for 30 days; five years probation. Effective April 1, 1994.

Gary Bertrand Humphrey, M.D., Inglewood: Gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence and prescribing dangerous drugs without prior exam and for other than legitimate purposes to a number of patients. Conviction for crime of possessing paraphernalia used to inject or inhale a controlled substance. License revoked. Effective Feb. 27, 1994.

Thomas H. Johnson, M.D., Los Angeles: Disciplined by the Minnesota Medical Board for prescribing and administering abusable drugs for reasons other than therapeutic purposes. California license revoked. Effective March 16, 1994.

Harry Leon Krohn, M.D., Long Beach: Self-use of Dilaudid, prescribing without medical examination or reason and conviction of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. Revocation of license stayed; seven years probation. Effective April 7, 1994.

Phyllis L. Presley, M.D., Pasadena: Mismanagement of two obstetrical cases. Revocation of license stayed; five years probation with the condition that she pass an oral clinical examination prior to resuming practice of obstetrics. Also, monitoring of obstetrical practice required for two years. Effective Feb. 5, 1994.

Jususa Navarro Romero, M.D., Downey: California Medical Board’s action based on Medicaid fraud occurring in Louisiana, as well as action taken by the Ohio Medical Board for lack of timely submission of documentation of continuing medical education compliance. Revocation of license stayed; five years probation. Effective Feb. 7, 1994.

Preston H. Rubel, M.D., Los Angeles: Conviction of a crime for self-use of drugs. License revoked. Effective Feb. 7, 1994.

Thomas R. Stephenson, M.D., Los Angeles: Gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, creating false medical records, dishonesty, violating insurance requirements, false and misleading advertising in the care and treatment of plastic surgery patients. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended 120 days and passage of an oral clinical exam required; 10 years probation. Effective April 11, 1994.

ACUPUNCTURISTS

Moo Bae Kim, Rowland Heights: Unprofessional conduct. Securing an acupuncture license by fraud or deceit. License revoked. Effective April 18, 1994.

Don Jin Yuk, Los Angeles: Unprofessional conduct. Securing an acupuncture license by fraud or deceit. License revoked. Effective April 18, 1994.

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

Carl Lennox Crosby, Los Angeles: Conviction of possession of cocaine, multiple violations of probation. Habitual intemperance, cocaine addiction. License revoked. Effective Feb. 10, 1994.

Leroy Duane Johnson, Montebello: Aiding and abetting unlicensed practice of physical therapy. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended 90 days; three years probation. Effective Feb. 23, 1994.

PODIATRIST

Frank J. Garofalo, Canoga Park: Failure to comply with probationary terms of prior discipline, committing act of dishonesty in falsifying application for reappointment to hospital medical staff. Revocation of license stayed; two additional years probation. Effective Feb. 18, 1994.

PSYCHOLOGISTS

Donald E. Spiegel, Studio City: Three prior convictions involving petty theft and lewd conduct. Sixty-day suspension of license stayed; three years probation. Effective March 23, 1994.

Daniel S. Smith, Claremont: Unprofessional conduct. Revocation of license stayed; five years probation. Effective April 11, 1994.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANT

Angela Venners-Sissons, Lakewood: Convicted for Medi-Cal fraud. Revocation of license stayed; five years probation. License will be suspended for 30 days, beginning 180 days after the effective date of March 22, 1994.

RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS

David Wayne Arisman, Harbor City: Convictions for burglary, attempted murder, attempted rape and assault with a deadly and dangerous weapon. License revoked. Effective March 3, 1994.

Jose L. Cava, La Mirada: Conviction for receiving stolen property. Self-abuse of controlled substances. License granted with five years probation attached. Effective Feb. 1, 1994.

Leroi Pierre Jones, Inglewood: Conviction for residential burglary. License revoked. Effective Feb. 7, 1994.

Cassandra M. Stapler, Long Beach: Convictions for soliciting prostitution. Revocation of license stayed; five years probation. Effective April 2, 1994.

Michael A. Tucker, Gardena: Violation of terms of probation of prior discipline. License revoked. Effective April 30, 1994.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.