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 Aug. 1 and Oct. 31, 1997, according to Medical Board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Albert R. Brown MD, Los Angeles: On Oct. 13, 1992, he performed an abortion and failed to remove all of the products of conception from the patient’s uterus. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective Sept. 17, 1997.

Vache Chakmakian MD, Granada Hills: Prescribed and administered dangerous drugs, soma and cortisone, to two patients without properly documenting having performed the necessary good-faith prior examination; prescribed pain medication to a drug-dependent patient; and failed to attempt to lower a patient’s elevated blood pressure. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective May 1, 1997.

Seung Kook Chang MD, Walnut: Committed acts or omissions constituting gross negligence in his record-keeping and incompetence in his medical care of a patient. Revocation of license stayed; three years probation. Effective Sept. 29, 1997.

Chun Kull Chung MD, Monterey Park: Failed to adequately ventilate and monitor an 88-year-old patient during hip surgery. Revocation of license stayed; three years probation. Effective Oct. 13, 1997.

Santiago Dayoan Corpuz Jr. MD, West Covina: During the course of treating 11 patients involved in the same accident, he billed for treatments that did not take place, allowed unlicensed individuals to perform physical therapy and created medical records that did not accurately reflect the treatments rendered. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended for 30 days; five years probation. Effective Oct. 17, 1997.

Farhad Davidi MD, Los Angeles: Felony conviction for insurance fraud. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended for 60 days; five years probation. Effective Oct. 14, 1997.

Joseph Ezra MD, Tarzana: Convicted of 10 felony counts of mail fraud for submitting false claims to the Medicare program. Revocation of license stayed; four years probation. Effective Oct. 9, 1997.

Gordon S. Goei MD, Beverly Hills: Negligence and incompetence in his care and treatment of several patients. Revocation of license stayed; seven years probation. Effective Sept. 19, 1997.

Dan Tzuoh Lee MD, San Marino: Negligence in his care and treatment of three obstetrical patients. Revocation of license stayed; three years probation. Effective Sept. 10, 1997.

John Andrew McRae MD, Los Angeles: Negligent and incompetent treatment while performing a discectomy on a patient. Revocation of license stayed; three years probation. Effective Oct. 10, 1997.

Melvin Monroe Sigman MD, Los Angeles: Felony criminal conviction for conspiracy to obstruct justice arising out of his involvement with other individuals to defraud insurance carriers by signing insurance claims for psychiatric services that had not been performed and for psychotherapy sessions that had not been conducted. Revocation of license stayed; five years probation. Effective Aug. 4, 1997.

David Phong Tran MD, Diamond Bar: Felony criminal conviction for conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and grand theft; making or signing false documents; creation, alteration or modification of medical records with fraudulent intent; and conspiracy with a noncertified person to violate the Medical Practice Act. Revocation of license stayed; license suspended for 180 days; five years probation. Effective Oct. 10, 1997.

Ernest Lee Washington MD, Los Angeles: Misdemeanor criminal conviction for loitering around public toilets for the purpose of engaging in and soliciting a lewd and lascivious act and an unlawful act. Revocation of license stayed; three years probation. Effective Aug. 1, 1997.

Young-Sun Yi MD, Los Angeles: Committed acts of repeated negligence in his care of a patient in the course of a penile implant surgery. Revocation of license stayed; three years probation. Effective Oct. 10, 1997.

* A lesser form of discipline that can be negotiated for minor violations before or after the filing of formal charges. 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.