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, 2000, according to Medical Board documents. Final actions are generally published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Dr. Mohammad Salim Alwattar, Los Angeles: Failed to make a proper diagnosis on one patient, and prescribed a drug to another patient although the medical chart disclosed that the patient was allergic to the medication. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective July 19.

Dr. Robert Z. Braun, Los Angeles: Violated terms and conditions of Medical Board probation. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 15 days, five years’ probation. Effective May 30.

Dr. Christopher C. Dotson Jr., Los Angeles: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct during the care and treatment of two obstetrical patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective June 16.

Dr. Gilbert E. Faustina, Hawthorne: Disciplined by North Dakota Medical Board for performing surgical procedures on the basis of inaccurate diagnoses and failure to transfer patients to another health care facility in a timely manner. Six months’ suspension of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective May 4.

Dr. Dean Ferdows, Canoga Park: Criminal conviction for mail fraud with aiding and abetting and making a false statement on a tax return; and failed to report this conviction to the Medical Board. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective July 20.

Dr. John A. Giddings, Duarte: Violated terms and conditions of Medical Board probation. Revocation of license stayed, 10 years’ probation. Effective June 21.

Dr. Arthur N. Goldfarb, Lancaster: Violated terms and conditions of Medical Board probation. License revoked. Effective May 25.

Dr. Natividad C. Guinto, Carson: Criminal conviction for income tax evasion; failed to report this conviction to the Medical Board. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective June 19.

Dr. Daniel James Healy, Duarte: Committed acts of dishonesty, insurance fraud, aiding and abetting unlicensed practice, conspiracy with unlicensed persons, incompetence and gross negligence with respect to five weight loss patients. Revocation of license stayed, four years’ probation. Effective May 26.

Dr. Harold Allen Lancer, Beverly Hills: Produced incomplete, inaccurate and confusing clinical notes and operative reports concerning three dermatology patients. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective May 4.

Dr. Alan T.C. Lee, Los Angeles: Disciplined by New York Medical Board based on failure to adequately attend to and provide appropriate coverage for patients. Suspension of license stayed, two years’ probation. Effective June 5.

Dr. Nick H. Lee, Alhambra: Criminal conviction for insurance fraud. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 90 days, five years’ probation. Effective July 7.

Dr. Gerald Dale Levy, Bellflower: Signed a Certificate of Disability of Trustee/Trustor to the effect that a patient was physically incapacitated without conducting a prior good faith examination. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective May 16.

Dr. Jamie Lorne MacDougall, Manhattan Beach: Improperly billed for services at an inflated reimbursement rate by falsely documenting that excised lesions were malignant instead of benign or pre-malignant. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective May 23.

Dr. David Louis Matlock, Los Angeles: Engaged in insurance fraud by misrepresenting cosmetic liposuction procedures as medically necessary gynecological laparoscopy. Revocation of license stayed, four years’ probation. Effective June 19.

Dr. Ben Matsumura, El Monte: Violated terms and conditions of Medical Board probation. One year probation added to original five years’ probation. Effective July 25.

Dr. David Michael Melamed, Los Angeles: Charged with committing acts of negligence, excessive prescribing of Dilaudid, and failure to maintain adequate records during the care and treatment of eight patients; and disciplined by Rhode Island Medical Board for making false statements in an application for licensure. No admissions; revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective June 15.

Dr. Paul Edward Morin, Woodland Hills: Gave false and misleading information to representatives of the Medical Board during an investigation of his arrests and convictions for disorderly conduct. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective May 12.

Dr. Benny Newman, La Puente: Ordered excessive testing and/or treatment for five patients; and allowed a physician assistant to practice without written transport and backup procedures in relation to one patient. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, five years’ probation. Effective May 31.

Dr. Douglas Egeonu Okpara, Cerritos: Committed acts of gross negligence during the care and treatment of four patients. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective May 1.

Dr. Rafik Sarkissian, Beverly Hills: Billed insurance companies to reflect that surgical procedures performed on two patients were medically necessary without reflecting that the surgeries also included aspects that were cosmetic. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective July 12.

Dr. Terry Wesley Scott, Diamond Bar: Criminal conviction for making false statements on a tax return. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective May 5.

Dr. Alexander Sulkhan Sinclair, Whittier: Permitted the creation of inaccurate medical records relating to the performance of cosmetic surgery procedures that were billed as medically necessary surgeries. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective June 14.

Dr. Raja Kairalla Srour, Los Angeles: Failed to provide adequate preoperative and intra-operative care to two patients and postoperative care to a third patient; and made false entries in the medical records of four patients. Revocation of license stayed, 10 years’ probation. Effective July 7.

Dr. Davoud Yedidsion, Los Angeles: Criminal conviction for mail fraud and making false statements. License revoked. Effective July 5.

* 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 a part of his or her public record.

Note: Copies of the public record documents attendant to these cases are available at minimal cost by calling the Medical Board’s Central File Room at (916) 263-2525.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.