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, San Bernardino and Ventura County physicians and surgeons who were subject to serious disciplinary actions between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31, 2001, according to Medical Board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.
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Dr. Ravindra Alapati, Anaheim: Charged with dishonesty for conspiring to disseminate insider information and securities trading on the Nasdaq exchange. No admissions; disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Aug. 23, 2001.
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Dr. Vincent Joseph Bennett, Paramount: Aided and abetted the unlicensed practice of medicine in an employment relationship with a board and care facility. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective Sept. 26, 2001.
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Dr. Andrew Yintah Chi, Manhattan Beach: Failed to disclose conviction of a crime on his license application. License issued, then revoked; revocation of license stayed; five years’ probation. Effective Aug. 22, 2001.
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Dr. Thomas Calvin Cloud III, Los Angeles: Failed to comply with conditions of a Medical Board probationary order, failed to report a felony conviction and sentencing, represented himself as a physician and practiced medicine while his license was suspended. License revoked. Effective Sept. 26, 2001.
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Dr. Bruce M. Frome, Beverly Hills: Committed acts of gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts in failing to obtain/use appropriate medical tests and results in the care and treatment of three patients. Revocation of license stayed, six years’ probation. Effective Aug. 24, 2001.
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Dr. Donald W. Hemphill Jr., Garden Grove: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate records in the care and treatment of a patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Aug. 13, 2001.
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Dr. Tran Tien Huyen, Santa Ana: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate records in the care and treatment of a patient. Revocation of license stayed, two years’ probation. Effective Sept. 3, 2001.
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Dr. David Yi-Fong Hwang, Anaheim: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence and incompetence, failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, and prescribed dangerous drugs and controlled substances without prior examinations or medical indication in the care and treatment of three patients. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Oct. 12, 2001.
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Dr. Dale Garfield Knox, San Clemente: Committed acts of gross negligence by allowing unlicensed persons to provide medical care to a patient. Revocation of license stayed, seven years’ probation. Effective Sept. 6, 2001.
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Dr. Jose Pablo Libunao III, Anaheim: Disciplined by Pennsylvania Medical Board for failure to provide patients with adequate access to their medical records. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Sept. 17, 2001.
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Dr. Raviprakash Makam, Anaheim: Charged with dishonesty for conspiring to disseminate insider information and securities trading on the Nasdaq exchange. No admissions; disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Aug. 15, 2001.
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Dr. Kenneth K. Matsumoto, Beverly Hills: Charged with gross negligence, incompetence and unprofessional conduct in the care and treatment of a patient after diagnosing and continuing to diagnose esophagitis throughout treatment period without performing or referring the patient for a diagnostic study or endoscopy, even after detection of a sub-mucosal mass. Public letter of reprimand* issued and license placed in inactive (non-practice) status. If license is reactivated, then it will be revoked, stayed, and 10 years’ of probation will be attached. Effective Oct. 26, 2001.
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Dr. Monte O. McCanne, San Juan Capistrano: Failed to maintain complete and accurate records and prescribed Antabuse to a patient after determination that the patient was jaundiced and may have had hepatitis. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Oct. 15, 2001.
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Dr. Kathy Maureen McCourt, Ventura: Failed to release medical records for 35 patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Oct. 5, 2001.
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Dr. Kanan Anil Modi, San Dimas: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate records. Current probation extended for an additional three years. Effective Aug. 23, 2001.
* Dr. Gharoon Panahi, Fountain Valley: Committed acts of negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts and failed to maintain adequate medical records in the care and treatment of a patient. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Oct. 26, 2001.
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Dr. Rangarao Panguluri, Baldwin Park: Charged with dishonesty for conspiring to disseminate insider information and securities trading on the Nasdaq exchange. No admissions; disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Aug. 10, 2001.
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Dr. Alvin Reiter, Beverly Hills: Convicted of four counts of mail fraud and aiding and abetting the submission of false and fraudulent medical claims. Revocation of license stayed, seven years’ probation. Effective Aug. 20, 2001.
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Dr. Rubina Shaheen, Anaheim: Committed dishonest acts by failing to disclose information regarding prior dismissal and termination from a residency program on an application for membership to an HMO program. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective Oct. 1, 2001.
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Dr. William Elson Shell, Los Angeles: Charged with violation of terms and conditions of Medical Board-ordered probation. No admissions; current probation extended until Dec. 31, 2001, or until the terms and conditions of the decision are completed. Effective Oct. 10, 2001.
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Dr. Gunnar Anders Smars, Redlands: Convicted of falsely representing his name in a passport application and failed to comply with court-ordered probation. License revoked. Effective Oct. 9, 2001.
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Dr. Parvin Syal, Northridge: Criminal conviction for filing false or fraudulent Medi-Cal claims. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Oct. 29, 2001.
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Dr. Forest Searls Tennant Jr., West Covina: Criminal conviction for filing false or fraudulent Medi-Cal claims. Revocation of license stayed, four years’ probation. Effective Sept. 24, 2001. Dr. David Michael Vesco, Calabasas: Prescribed excessive controlled substances to a patient with a history of drug abuse without attempting to treat chronic pain by methods other than medication. Revocation of license stayed, two years’ probation. Effective Sept. 6, 2001.
* 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.