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 physicians and surgeons from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties who were 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. William C. Bryce, Azusa: Charged with gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence, aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine, employing runners, cappers and steerers (recruiting patients by offering other patients a fee or discount to reduce their own medical bills in return for every person referred) in the operation of his medical practice, inadequate record keeping, improper drug dispensing, and general unprofessional conduct. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 30 days, three years’ probation. Effective June 13.

Dr. Theophile L. Carty, Los Angeles: Failed to comply with medical board-ordered probation and convicted in U.S. District Court of a felony for attempted bribery of a public official while trying to secure a passport for another individual. License revoked. Effective June 10.

Dr. Jerry Edward Corners, Newport Beach: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct and violated state and federal drug statutes for possession of a controlled substance, being under the influence, and unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). License revoked. Effective May 2.

Dr. Gebre Christos Gobezie, Barstow: Committed acts of gross negligence and repeated negligent acts in the care and treatment of four patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective May 21.

Dr. Dharmakumar Wilson Gomer, San Bernardino: Charged with acts of negligence and failure to maintain adequate and accurate records in the care and treatment of one patient. No admissions; disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective July 24.

Dr. Vincent Wentworth Hollis, Carson: Engaged in repeated negligent acts, including failure to recognize and manage transference and counter-transference issues; engaged in sexual relations with a patient; failed to properly terminate the physician-patient relationship; prescribed without a good-faith prior examination and without contacting the prescribing physician; and criminally convicted for making a terrorist threat. License revoked. Effective June 28.

Dr. Nolan Carthell Jones, Los Angeles: Failed to comply with medical board-ordered probation conditions requiring submittal of a practice plan for monitoring and for failing to have a properly certified supervisor for operation of the on-site X-ray machine. Three additional years’ probation. Effective June 21.

Dr. Norman Leaf, Beverly Hills: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct, aided and abetted the unlicensed practice of medicine, prescribed without a medical examination, and violated drug statutes in the care and treatment of one patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective June 19.

Dr. Pejman Maleki, Irvine: Failed to comply with diversion program requirements, falsified drug logs, and used controlled substances. License revoked. Effective July 18.

Dr. Lakshmi Nadgir, Los Angeles: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct, dishonesty, aided and abetted the unlicensed practice of medicine, falsified medical records, committed Medi-Cal fraud, and violated medical board-ordered probation. License revoked. Effective May 15.

Dr. Jong W. Park, Orange: Failed to maintain adequate medical records, failed to take or document an adequate history, and failed to perform or document appropriate neurological examinations or to make a neurological referral. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective June 19.

Dr. Robert Eugene Schmitz, Palm Springs: Unable to practice medicine safely due to mental illness or physical illness affecting competency. Suspended indefinitely from practicing medicine until the board’s Division of Medical Quality receives competent evidence of the absence or control of mental illness or physical illness affecting competency. Effective June 24.

Dr. Koung Sein, Los Angeles: Committed acts of repeated negligence, and failed to maintain adequate and accurate records. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective July 1.

Dr. Ion Sima, Bellflower: Charged with gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence, and failure to maintain adequate medical records in the care and treatment of one patient. No admissions; revocation of license stayed, four years’ probation. Effective June 17.

Dr. Jeffry Alan Smith, Riverside: Convicted of 23 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 and failed to appear for sentencing. License revoked. Effective June 10.

Dr. Jeffrey Robert Unger, Chino: Disciplined by Nevada Medical Board for engaging in fraud, misrepresentation, providing incomplete information in completing a license renewal application, and failed to comply with medical board-ordered probation. Revocation of license stayed, two years’ probation. Effective May 9.

Dr. Alfonso Villamizar, Inglewood: Convicted of representing himself as a medical doctor while his license was suspended and also convicted of practicing medicine without valid certification or authority. Failed to comply with several conditions of medical board-ordered probation; engaged in the practice of medicine while his license was suspended; prescribed dangerous drugs without conducting a physical examination or without documenting such examination. License revoked. Effective May 30.

* 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 at (916) 263-2525.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.