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, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino County physicians and surgeons subject to serious disciplinary actions between May 1 and July 31, according to Medical Board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Dr. Jamshid Arfania, Rolling Hills Estates: Violated terms and conditions of Medical Board-ordered probation. Ability to practice medicine safely is impaired because of mental or physical illness. License revoked. Effective June 15.

Dr. Larry Melvin Colman, Palos Verdes Estates: Failed to comply with Medical Board-ordered probation and committed dishonest acts by reporting false information on quarterly affidavit forms submitted to the Medical Board. Disciplined via public reprimand**. Effective July 20.

Dr. Clark Alan Feldman, Los Angeles: Initiated or attempted to initiate social relationships with three former patients without adequate documentation of the termination of the physician-patient relationship. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective June 26.

Dr. Christian John Gastelum, Diamond Bar: Denial of license based on failure to disclose a misdemeanor conviction on his application for licensure. License issued with five years’ probation attached. Effective May 24.

Dr. Kevin Gohar, Santa Monica: Misrepresented facts in documents, committed gross negligence and repeated negligent acts in the care, treatment and management of spinal surgery patients. Revocation of license stayed; seven years’ probation. Effective June 15.

Dr. Ghassan El-Abdallah Hadi, La Verne: Failed to maintain adequate medical records in the care and treatment of a patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective May 31.

Dr. Randolph Peter Holmes, Whittier: Committed unprofessional conduct by failing to provide appropriate medical care to a patient. Disciplined via public reprimand**. Effective May 31.

Dr. Kesho Nath Hurria, Anaheim: Committed repeated negligent acts and demonstrated incompetence in the postoperative care and treatment of a patient’s ankle fracture. Revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective July 20.

Dr. Terry Lee Jaqua, Apple Valley: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records by failing to completely and accurately document examinations, comments and conversations with a patient. Disciplined via public reprimand**. Effective June 7.

Dr. Maurice Moise Levy, Los Angeles: Prescribed antibiotic and steroid medications to a patient in a manner inconsistent with the traditional use of these medications. Also, the medical records concerning this patient did not establish whether the patient was properly monitored for side effects connected with these medications. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective July 25.

Dr. Jesse David Mitchell, Laguna Hills: Maintained incomplete, sparse and undated medical records regarding liposuction and abdominoplasty surgery on a patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective July 23.

Dr. Leonid Modilevsky, Huntington Park: Convicted in U.S. District Court on three counts of signing his name to false income tax returns. Revocation of license stayed; three years’ probation. Effective July 16.

Dr. Andrew Paul Ordon, Beverly Hills: The Connecticut Medical Examining Board issued a civil penalty charging incompetent and/or negligent care in the care and treatment of a patient. Disciplined via public reprimand**. Effective July 19.

Dr. Thomas R. Powers, Redlands: License suspended indefinitely until there is evidence of the control or absence of any condition, mental or physical, that impairs his ability to practice safely. Effective July 9.

Dr. Thomas C. Sutterfield, Palm Desert: License suspended indefinitely until there is evidence of the control or absence of any condition, mental or physical, that impairs his ability to practice safely. Effective May 28.

Dr. Evancia Sy, Harbor City: Criminally convicted of insurance fraud and grand theft. License revoked. Effective July 9.

Dr. Norman Trabulus, Van Nuys: Mental and/or physical impairment affecting the ability to practice medicine safely. License revoked. Effective May 30.

Dr. Frank M. Yusuf, Lancaster: Committed acts of repeated negligence in the care and treatment of a patient by delaying exploratory surgery to determine the cause of extensive postoperative bleeding. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective July 25.

* 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