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 Feb. 1 and April 30, 1999, according to Medical Board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Dr. Eddie James Boatwright, Carson: Felony conviction for conspiracy to commit fraud related to his submission of claims to Medi-Cal for medical services that were never provided. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective March 3.

Dr. Albert R. Brown, Los Angeles: Improperly and illegally disposed of medical waste, including fetal remains; failed to perform physical examination, including patient history, or determine gestational age of fetuses prior to performing abortions. License revoked. Effective March 22.

Dr. Reynaldo B. Castillo, Los Angeles: Felony conviction for Medi-Cal fraud. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Feb. 7.

Dr. Dennis Michael Causey, Los Angeles: Mental illness affecting his ability to practice medicine safely and failure to comply with order for mental competency examination. License revoked. Effective Feb. 8.

Dr. Mark Eunchull Choi, Los Angeles: Committed acts of gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts in his care and treatment of a patient by unnecessarily delaying a caesarean section. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective April 22.

Dr. Sanders S. Chung, Los Angeles: Committed acts of gross negligence and repeated negligent acts in his care and treatment of five obstetrical patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective March 19.

Dr. Faramarz Davidi, Encino: Committed acts of gross negligence by engaging in unprofessional conduct involving boundary violations of the physician-patient relationship, and was negligent in his treatment of the patient in that he failed to adequately manage her weight reduction program. Revocation of license stayed, four years’ probation. Effective April 16.

Dr. Shahram Ghanem, Whittier: Committed acts of sexual misconduct during his treatment of two patients. One-year suspension of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective March 25.

Dr. Dionisio Dumbrique Lazaro, Harbor City: Felony conviction for grand theft related to false and fraudulent claims submitted to the Medi-Cal program. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective April 16.

Dr. Richard Wayne Merel, Torrance: Committed acts of gross negligence in his care and treatment of a patient. Revocation of license stayed, four years’ probation. Effective March 11.

Dr. Thomas Mintz, Santa Monica: Failed to adequately document in medical records the reasons for prescribing antidepressant medication and to account for billing inaccuracies related to his treatment of a patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective March 16.

Dr. Accie M. Mitchell, Los Angeles: Failed to have written guidelines or protocols for the supervision of a physician assistant. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Feb. 24.

Dr. Emilio Jamorabon Padre, Cerritos: Committed acts of repeated negligence for his failure to recognize the severity of a patient’s condition and act on it by referring the patient to a facility providing a higher level of care, and his failure to maintain adequate medical records for the patient. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Feb. 8.

Dr. Anthony N. Peters, Burbank: Committed acts of repeated negligence in his care and treatment of a patient. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Feb. 8.

Dr. Charles Sassoon, Huntington Park: Violated terms and conditions of probation. Probationary term extended for two years. Effective March 1.

Dr. Philip Siegel, Beverly Hills: Committed acts of sexual misconduct, gross negligence and repeated negligent acts with several patients; felony conviction for one count of sexual exploitation by a physician and four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. License revoked. Effective March 4.

Dr. Violeta B. Vicencio, Palos Verdes: Felony conviction for four counts of filing false income tax returns and one count of mail fraud related to submitting claims, which contained false information, to insurance companies for payment. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective April 28.

Dr. Arthur Harold Weintraub, Woodland Hills: Violated terms and conditions of probation. Probationary term extended for three years. Effective March 22.

* 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.