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 physicians and surgeons subject to serious disciplinary actions from Feb. 1 to April 30, 1996, according to medical board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

* Lawson Alozie Akpulonu MD, Los Angeles: Sexual misconduct with abortion patients, also constituting gross negligence and repeated negligent acts. License revoked. Effective Feb. 27, 1996.

* Sharon A. Ashley MD, Manhattan Beach: Aided and abetted unlicensed practice by supervising physician assistants, not validly licensed, at several clinics in Los Angeles area owned by lay people. One-year suspension of license stayed; two years’ probation. Effective April 3, 1996.

* Ronald Alan Gershman MD, Los Angeles: Self-use of controlled substances. Excessive prescribing. Disciplined via Public Letter of Reprimand*. Effective Feb. 29, 1996.

* Terrence Hammer MD, Torrance: Failed to treat a patient adequately during 1991-1992. Disciplined via Public Letter of Reprimand*. Effective March 25, 1996.

* Hameed A. Khan MD, Torrance: Repeated negligent acts in the offensive touching and squeezing of female patients during pre-employment physical exams. Prior discipline. Prior probation extended for four years. Effective March 11, 1996.

* Purnell Kirkland MD, Hawthorne: Conspired with Sumac Co. to defraud Medi-Cal and Medicare by submitting false claims for unnecessary medical devices and supplemental supplies for the devices. Received unlawful payments from Sumac, resulting in criminal conviction for receiving kickbacks for patient referrals. Revocation of license stayed; two years’ probation. Effective April 8, 1996.

* Gerald Manley Paul, Northridge: Referring patients for a kickback, in violation of Business and Professions Code Section 650. Disciplined via Public Reprimand**. Effective April 19, 1996.

* Scott Evan Powell MD, Los Angeles: Disciplined by Colorado Board related to deficiencies in record keeping and documentation on diagnosis, testing, prescribing and treatment as revealed in an audit of 25 patient charts by New York Social Services. Disciplined by Public Reprimand**. Effective April 8, 1996.

* Norman P. Rotenberg MD, Beverly Hills: Wrote numerous prescriptions of Percocet, a Schedule II narcotic, in the absence of a medically indicated reason or prior good faith examination of a sly patient. Suspension of license stayed; one year probation. Effective April 29, 1996.

* Divyang N. Trivedi MD, Norwalk (President of Allergy, Asthma, Sinusitis Medical Clinic, a professional corporation): Excessive use of diagnostic and treatment procedures, including sinus ultrasound, at his clinic described above. Revocation of license stayed; 30 months probation. Effective Feb. 21, 1996.

* Carl D. Utsinger MD, Santa Monica: Repeated negligent acts consisting of a personal involvement with the mother of a former minor patient. Revocation of license stayed; three years’ probation. Effective March 11, 1996.

* Jack Weinstein MD, La Mirada: Clearly excessive treatment. Nothing in the patient records substantiates a diagnosis calling for repeated massage therapy treatment. Revocation of license stayed; four years’ probation. Effective April 4, 1996.

* Sam Hyuk Yoon MD, Lawndale: Repeated negligent acts--improper prescribing of Ampicillin on a diagnosis of otitis media (inflamed middle ear); failed to order intravenous fluids to treat dehydration and failed to order renal function tests. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective March 25, 1996.

NOTES:

* A lesser form of discipline that can be negotiated for minor violations before or after the filing of formal charges (accusations). The licensee is chastised in the form of a letter that becomes a part of his or her public record.

** A public reprimand, another lesser form of discipline, is similar to a public letter of reprimand except that it must be the result of charges that are filed. The reprimand becomes part of his or her public record.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento

CALIFORNIA MEDICAL BOARD