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 who were subject to serious disciplinary actions between Nov. 1, 2003, and Jan. 31, 2004, according to medical board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Dr. Thomas Michael Barrett, Hesperia: Engaged in acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence, excessive prescribing; failed to perform adequate medical histories and physicals; failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records; and created false medical records in the care and treatment of 24 patients. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for one year commencing on April 7, 2003, 10 years’ probation. Effective Dec. 22.

Dr. Tracy Denise Charles, Temecula: Committed acts of repeated negligence and excessive use of diagnostic procedures in the care and treatment of seven patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Jan. 14.

Dr. Emilio Louis Cruz, Burbank: Intentionally failed to accurately and truthfully fill out the doctor’s certificate section of the patient’s disability benefits form in the care and treatment of one patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective Dec. 1.

Dr. Festus Bamidele Dada, Corona: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of one patient. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation commencing Sept. 30, 2002. Effective Dec. 29.

Dr. Windgrove David Daniel, Los Angeles: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of 14 patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Dec. 4.

Dr. Antoine Leon Garabet, Glendora: Convicted of submitting fraudulent Medi-Cal claims to seek reimbursement for laser eye surgeries that were not performed. License revoked. Effective Dec. 26.

Dr. Narendra K. Gupta, Baldwin Park: Failed to review a pathology report that would have led to an ectopic pregnancy diagnosis in the care and treatment of one patient. Disciplined via public reprimand**. Effective Dec. 9.

Dr. Sim Carlisle Hoffman, Anaheim: Committed acts of gross negligence, excessive treatment or prescribing and failing to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of one patient. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 30 days, five years’ probation commencing July 3, 2003. Effective Jan. 6.

Dr. Neil Hollander, Huntington Beach: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate records in the care and treatment of three patients. The doctor made no admissions in the case; revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Jan. 16.

Dr. James Sandor Hurvitz, Malibu: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence and failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of one patient. Revocation of license stayed, seven years’ probation. Effective Jan. 2.

Dr. Roland S. Jefferson, Los Angeles: Committed acts of gross negligence by violating the boundaries of the doctor-patient relationship in the care and treatment of one patient. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 45 days, seven years’ probation. Effective Dec. 18.

Dr. Marvin Fletcher Jensen, Upland: Committed unprofessional conduct by performing surgery for which he was not trained and keeping incomplete records in the care and treatment of one patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective Jan. 21.

Dr. Adam David Karns, Beverly Hills: Failed to obtain an adequate history, perform a sufficient physical examination and obtain appropriate laboratory tests for one patient. He also failed to acknowledge the existence of a document called an Advance Directive/Preferred Intensity of Care, which had been signed by a family member. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand*. Effective Jan. 5.

Dr. Robert M. Karns, Beverly Hills: Charged with violating the terms and conditions of his medical board-ordered probation, gross negligence, repeated negligence, and incompetence in the care and treatment of two patients. The doctor made no admissions in the case; revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 15 days commencing March 15, 2003; three years’ probation. Effective Jan. 5.

Dr. Bell Chyur Laiw, Indio: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of 17 patients. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Jan. 5.

Dr. Luis Alejandro Lombardi, Wilmington: Felony convictions for submitting false medical billings to Medi-Cal for patient visits; assisting in submitting false Medi-Cal claims; receiving illegal kickbacks for false billings; and committing income tax fraud. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 90 days, five years’ probation. Effective Dec. 20.

Dr. Gregg A. Olsen, Sherman Oaks: Engaged in sexual misconduct with a patient and prescribed controlled substances without performing a good faith examination. Revocation of license stayed, one year’s probation. Effective Nov. 6.

Dr. Philip Brian Pierre-Louis, Riverside: Violated the terms and conditions of his medical board-ordered probation. Probation extended by one additional year. Effective Dec. 1.

Dr. Visith Priromprintr, Moreno Valley: Committed acts of gross negligence and unprofessional conduct in the care and treatment of one patient by failing to review the patient’s history before performing an irreversible tubal ligation. The patient had signed consent for a diagnostic laparoscopy only. Revocation of license stayed, two years’ probation. Effective Nov. 13.

Dr. T.S.S. Rajan, Long Beach: Charged with gross negligence, repeated negligence, incompetence, and failure to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of four patients; unprofessional conduct in the care and treatment of three patients, and charged with dishonesty for failing to disclose information regarding previous disciplinary action during a hiring interview. The doctor made no admissions in the case; revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Jan. 29.

Dr. Phuoc Huu Vo, Hawthorne: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence, incompetence, violated drug laws, failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, practiced under a fictitious name without a permit, failed to comply with drug labeling and packaging requirements, and failed to produce patient records. Revocation of license stayed, seven years’ probation. Effective Nov. 17.

* 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 by calling the medical board’s file room at (916) 263-2525.

Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.

Los Angeles Times