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, according to Medical Board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Dr. Sergio Gilberto Andrade, La Canada Flintridge: Criminal conviction for the unlawful holding of a misbranded drug. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, five years’ probation. Effective March 12.

Dr. Armin Azad, Los Angeles: Failed to maintain adequate medical records regarding the care, treatment and monitoring of a surgical patient. Disciplined via public reprimand**. Effective April 17.

Dr. Dennis Larry Clark, Long Beach: Inadequate supervision of a physician assistant in the care and treatment of one patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective March 21.

Dr. Jaime Guillermo Corvalan, Pasadena: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records due to the dictation of an unusual operative report with questionable pre- and postoperative diagnoses and nonstandard narrative text. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective March 29.

Dr. Pleasant W. Davidson III, Beverly Hills: Charged with allowing an unlicensed person to practice psychotherapy and medicine, and dispensed prescription medicine over a 20-year period. No admissions; revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 30 days, five years’ probation. Effective Feb. 5.

Dr. Sathit B. Dulkanchainun, Sun Valley: Charged with conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol. No admissions; suspension of license stayed, 28 months’ probation. Effective March 19.

Dr. Harvey Yale Feinberg, Studio City: Failed to comply with an order compelling mental and physical exams, failed to comply with a request for medical records and failed to comply with an investigative subpoena duces tecum for medical records. License revoked. Effective Feb. 13.

Dr. Anna Gravich, Huntington Park: Aided and abetted the unlicensed practice of medicine, failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, convicted of income tax evasion and subscribing to a false income tax return. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 30 days, four years’ probation. Effective April 9.

Dr. Maria Khasin, Beverly Hills: Convicted in federal court of two counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, three years’ probation. Effective Feb. 8.

Dr. Catherine Chunghei Lee, Los Angeles: Committed unprofessional conduct in that her medical records and billing records were unclear, incomplete and inaccurate in certain respects. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective April 24.

Dr. Jerry Fred Moss, Los Angeles: Violated terms and conditions of Medical Board-ordered probation and convicted by plea of nolo contendere to one count of violation of Penal Code section 273(a), willfully causing a child within his custody unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, and one count of violation of Penal Code section 148, obstructing a police officer. Revocation of license stayed, seven years’ probation. Effective Feb. 5.

Dr. Lakshmi Nadgir, Los Angeles: Charged with violating terms and conditions of Medical Board-ordered probation and making false statements in a licensing application and an application for hospital privileges. No admissions; current probation extended for an additional two years. Effective Feb. 16.

Dr. James W. Needham, Sherman Oaks: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence and incompetence in the care and treatment of seven patients. License revoked. Effective March 15.

Dr. Lolita Quintal Resari, Los Angeles: Criminal convictions for Medi-Cal fraud, false written claims and grand theft. License revoked. Effective March 23.

Dr. Edward Alan Ridgill, Whittier: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence, incompetence and excessive prescribing in the care and treatment of one patient. Failed to adequately and accurately maintain patient records, altered medical records with fraudulent intent and criminally convicted of mail fraud. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Feb. 7.

Dr. Eva Rodriguez-Ellis, Harbor City: Departed from the standard of practice in the care and treatment of one patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective Feb. 23.

Dr. La Vonne Theresa Willis, Hawaiian Gardens: Physical and mental impairment affecting her ability to practice medicine and self-use of drugs. Revocation of license stayed, six years’ probation. Effective April 5.

Dr. Kenneth B. Winters, Long Beach: Committed acts of gross negligence and repeated negligence by failing to perform medically appropriate history and physical examinations, excessive prescribing, prescribing without a valid medical indication and prescribing dangerous drugs and controlled substances. License revoked. Effective April 16.

* 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