Medical Board Acts Against Gynecologist

A gynecologist suspected of sexual misconduct with two patients at the Clinica de la Communidad in Oxnard has had his medical license partly suspended by the Medical Board of California.

Formal accusations against Dr. Ahmed A. Shohayeb will be filed by the board no later than April 1, said Richard Marino, California deputy attorney general, representing the board.

The partial interim suspension, called an ISO, prohibits Shohayeb from performing any kind of gynecological examination or test on any patient unless a female employee is present as a chaperon.

Two women patients of La Clinica de la Communidad made independent complaints of inappropriate touching by Shohayeb while he performed routine gynecological examinations on them in October and November of 1994.

Shohayeb left the clinic immediately after the second complaint was made against him, and he now practices in Culver City.

Under the terms of the ISO, Shohayeb must notify his current employer in writing of the action by April 1, and then notify the Medical Board within five days that he has done so.

This interim suspension “is very much like a restraining order,” Marino said. “We didn’t want to wait for the allegations to be filed before we took action.”

Shohayeb, who, according to Marino, has been practicing medicine in California since 1978, stands to lose his license if he is found guilty at a hearing and the Medical Board agrees.

Shohayeb could not be reached for comment.