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, San Bernardino and Ventura county physicians who were subject to serious disciplinary actions from Feb. 1 to April 30, according to Medical Board documents.

Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Dr. Gary Melvin Alpern, Thousand Oaks: Terminated from the Medical Board’s diversion program because of failure to abstain from alcohol use or consumption. Revocation of license stayed, seven years’ probation. Effective Feb. 13.

Dr. Musya Branovan, Los Angeles: Convicted of mail fraud; charged with engaging in acts of dishonesty and corruption, creating false medical records, failing to maintain accurate medical records and committing insurance fraud. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Feb. 11.

Dr. Lionel de Carlo Bristo, Chino Hills: Convicted of one count of practicing medicine without a license. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 30 days, 35 months’ probation. Effective March 28.

Dr. Soon Myung Cha, Los Angeles: Failed to secure adequate blood products in a timely manner for a patient who had placenta previa. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Feb. 8.

Dr. Candace Shiao-Rong Chang, Monterey Park: Criminal convictions on seven counts of conspiracy, insurance fraud, Medi-Cal fraud, grand theft and unlawful rebates. Revocation of license stayed, seven years’ probation. Effective March 21.

Dr. Yuan-Fei Chang Chen, Diamond Bar: Criminal convictions on four counts of knowingly billing Medicare for physical therapy services provided by an acupuncturist not eligible for Medicare reimbursement, billing for office visits for patients not examined or treated, and entering false information in patient charts to facilitate fraudulent claims for physical therapy. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Feb. 8.

Dr. Gualberto Rioflorido Dinglasan, Glendora: Convicted of a felony for making terrorist threats. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective March 29.

Dr. John Gregory Ellis, Temecula: Charged with repeated negligent acts for failing to recommend surgery to a patient during two office visits for treatment of a right distal radius and ulnar fracture. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective March 4.

Dr. David George Gardner, Calabasas: Convicted of a felony for money laundering involving monetary instruments exceeding a value of $5,000. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, five years’ probation. Effective March 28.

Dr. Karen Machiko Ito, Rancho Palos Verdes: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct, gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, fraudulent, dishonest and/or corrupt acts, violated drug statutes or regulations by prescribing dangerous drugs without medical indication, false representation on a medical document, and failed to maintain adequate records by obtaining prescriptions by forging other doctors’ names. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, seven years’ probation. Effective Feb. 4.

Dr. Oscar Francis Jackson, Fullerton: Committed acts of gross negligence and incompetence in the care and treatment of a patient during an appendectomy. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 90 days, five years’ probation. Effective March 18.

Dr. L. Khadijah Lang, Los Angeles: Admitted committing acts of gross negligence, repeated negligent acts and excessive use of diagnostic procedures in the care and treatment of nine patients. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 90 days, seven years’ probation. Effective Feb. 8.

Dr. John Lin, Los Angeles: Committed acts of gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligence in the care and treatment of three patients, and charged with prescribing without a good-faith examination in the care and treatment of a patient. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective April 11.

Dr. Gerald J. McCann, Norwalk: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence, aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine, operating an uncertified surgical center, failing to maintain adequate and accurate records, violation of drug laws, public communication of false, fraudulent, misleading or deceptive statements or claims, and dishonesty. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 90 days, seven years’ probation. Effective Feb. 22.

Dr. William Bryce McLeod, Rancho Cucamonga: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct in the care and treatment of five patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Feb. 6.

Dr. John Edward Miller, Los Angeles: Felony conviction for unlawful interference with a helicopter by flashing bright lights at a police helicopter; ability to practice medicine safely is impaired because of mental illness. License revoked. Effective April 18.

Dr. Bakulkumar Kantilal Patel, Foothill Ranch: Committed unprofessional conduct and repeated negligent acts in the care and treatment of a patient. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective Feb. 6.

Dr. Alexander Popov, Los Angeles: Failed to disclose a conviction of driving under the influence when submitting a license application. License issued with five years’ probation attached. Effective Feb. 11.

Dr. Raymond Donald Reynolds, Beverly Hills: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct and gross negligence in the use or prescribing of controlled substances, dishonesty, failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, excessively prescribed or administered drugs or treatment, prescribed without a good-faith prior examination and medical indication, and prescribing, selling or furnishing of drugs to an addict. License revoked. Effective April 22.

Dr. Ruben Mena Ruiz III, El Segundo: Engaged in the unlicensed practice of medicine by continuing to train without a physician’s license beyond the two years permitted under Business and Professions Code Section 2065. License issued with five years’ probation attached. Effective Feb. 6.

Dr. Hsien Shou Shih, Arcadia: Convicted of felony hit-and-run, petty theft and possessing an arsenal of unregistered weapons; committed an act of dishonesty in completing and submitting an application for medical staff privileges by failing to disclose previous hospital disciplinary action, and unprofessional conduct resulting from mental illness and abuse of prescription medications. Suspended from practice until the Medical Board determines, based on competent evidence, that, with due regard for the public health and safety, the physician’s right to practice his profession may be safely reinstated. Effective April 29.

Dr. Jay Harold Tibbles, Fontana: Convicted of six felony counts of unlawful attempt to commit lewd acts with a child and five felony counts of unlawful attempt to send harmful matter to a child under 14 years of age with intent to seduce the child. License revoked. Effective April 8.

Dr. Jorge Alberto Valcarcel, Bell: Charged with incompetence and unprofessional conduct in that the ability to practice medicine is impaired because of mental illness or physical illness affecting competency, demonstrated a lack of ability to discharge the responsibilities and duties of his licensure, and failed to undergo a compulsory psychiatric evaluation and psychological testing as ordered. License revoked. Effective March 7.

Dr. Isaak Zelyony, Los Angeles: Charged with aiding and abetting the practice of medicine by a nonlicensee and a nonmedical corporation, practicing under a fictitious name without a permit, negligence, repeated negligence, incompetence, excessive prescribing or treatment, and failing to maintain adequate records. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective April 26.

* 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 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 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.