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 between May 1 and July 31, 1996, according to medical board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

DOCTORS

* Harvey L. Alpern M.D., Los Angeles: Made payments to a management services company for patient referrals to his office. Disciplined via Public Letter of Reprimand*. Effective June 5.

* Rolando L. Atiga M.D., Glendora: Repeated negligent acts, incompetence in his treatment of a patient with Bell’s Palsy. Prescribed drugs for which there was no medical indication, excessive prescribing of drugs and treatment. False billing. Sixty days’ suspension of license stayed; four years’ probation. Effective May 22.

* Leslie M. Bishop M.D., Long Beach: Gave a false and incorrect answer on his application for licensure by omitting his conviction for disturbing the peace by loud and unreasonable noise. Disciplined via Public Letter of Reprimand*. Effective July 18.

* Rudy Chavez M.D., Rosemead: Excessive use of treatment facilities in a patient’s prolonged hospitalization. Created a false document on a workers’ compensation claim on behalf of a patient. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective May 22.

* Paul M. Fleiss M.D., Los Angeles: Convicted of conspiracy and false statements on a loan application to a federally insured bank. Revocation of license stayed; one year’s probation and Public Letter of Reprimand*. Effective May 22.

* William Hartley Hayling M.D., Marina del Rey: Allowed unlicensed individuals to run a natural childbirth facility under false auspices of being managed by a licensed physician. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective July 29.

* Stacey Lee Loeffler M.D., Glendale: Issued controlled substance prescriptions for self-use. Issued fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances. Prescribed, administered or dispensed controlled substances to an addict or a habitue. Issued prescriptions without prior good-faith examinations and without legitimate medical purpose. Acts of dishonesty or corruption. License revoked. Effective Oct. 20, 1995. (The license revocation was appealed but is now final.)

* Martin Saiwong Mok M.D., Arcadia: During the scheduled refill of a Medtronic pump, a patient was injected with a lethal dose of Dilaudid intrathecally. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended for 60 days; five years’ probation. Effective May 3.

* Jerry F. Moss M.D., Los Angeles: Abuse of controlled substances impairing his ability to practice safely. Revocation of license stayed; seven years’ probation. Effective June 10.

* Mory Nouriani M.D., Los Angeles: Unprofessional conduct for aiding and abetting an unlicensed person in the practice of medicine. Allowed a surgical technician to assist in a tubal ligation. Disciplined via Public Letter of Reprimand*. Effective July 2.

* Hugh Nuttycombe M.D., Glendale: Unprofessional conduct, gross negligence, repeated negligent acts and incompetence. While on call at a medical center, failed to diagnose and hospitalize, in a timely manner, a 9-day-old female infant who was experiencing a sudden onset of unexplained fever. The infant was subsequently hospitalized and diagnosed as suffering from spinal meningitis. Disciplined via Public Letter of Reprimand*. Effective June 12.

* Thomas Francis Scotton M.D., Pasadena: Disciplined by Pennsylvania Medical Board, where his medical license was revoked by default and prescribing without a good-faith exam, repeated negligent acts and violating drug statutes. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended 30 days; seven years’ probation. Effective July 19.

* 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.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.