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 in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties who were subject to serious disciplinary actions from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, 2003, according to Medical Board documents. Generally, final actions are published only after all appeals are exhausted.

Dr. Farid Afra, Beverly Hills: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence, incompetence and dishonest and corrupt acts; failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records; excessive treatment in the care and treatment of four patients. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Aug. 11.

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Dr. Olusola Alade Ajilore, Los Angeles: Failed to disclose an arrest and misdemeanor conviction for driving under the influence on his application for licensure with the Medical Board of California. License issued with five years’ probation attached. Effective Sept. 30.

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Dr. Marianne C. Burke, Glendale: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence and incompetence in the care and treatment of four patients. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Oct. 10.

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Dr. James Corbin Ericson, Grand Terrace: Disclosed a history of substance abuse on his application for licensure with the Medical Board of California. License issued with five years’ probation attached. Effective Aug. 19.

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Dr. Bernard Goetz, Los Angeles: Aided and abetted the unlicensed practice of medicine. Revocation of license stayed, five years’ probation. Effective Aug. 25.

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Dr. Sanford Joseph Greenberg, Palm Desert: Disciplined by Missouri Medical Board for illegal possession of cocaine. Suspension of license for 180 days stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Aug. 22.

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Dr. Ahmad Hajj, Montclair: Failed to maintain accurate and adequate medical records in the care and treatment of three patients. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Oct. 6.

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Dr. Heidi Jo Jatana, Redondo Beach: Disciplined by Colorado Medical Board for failure to attend to a patient during a 14-hour labor after receiving at least two reports of fetal decelerations and high-risk status. License revoked. Effective Sept. 5.

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Dr. Don Simon Jensen, Woodland Hills: Failed to ascertain that a patient and the patient’s medication dosing schedule were adequately monitored and evaluated by physicians and other licensed medical personnel. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective Oct. 14.

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Dr. Willie Lee Johnson, Los Angeles: Committed acts of dishonesty by knowingly omitting information regarding a criminal conviction on his application for licensure with the Medical Board of California; failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records; self-administered controlled substances without a prescription; failed to comply with Medical Board-ordered probation. License revoked. Effective Aug. 25.

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Dr. Kin Sam Jung, Ventura: Committed unprofessional conduct in the care and treatment of a patient by failing to personally perform an initial history and physical and discharging the patient from outpatient/observation hospitalization without ever seeing the patient. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective Aug. 14.

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Dr. Mark Allan Kasow, Northridge: Self-use of Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, which was not obtained under a physician’s orders or through a lawful prescription. Revocation of license stayed, 10 years’ probation. Effective Aug. 8.

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Dr. Ralph G. Kuon, Montebello: Charged with gross negligence, incompetence, making a false statement in a document, repeated negligent acts and failure to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of a patient. No admissions, revocation of license stayed, one year’s probation. Effective Sept. 18.

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Dr. Badrudin Rajabali Kurwa, Arcadia: Committed acts of dishonesty by altering patient medical records. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, five years’ probation. Effective Sept. 10.

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Dr. Robert M. Naraghi, Los Angeles: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of a patient. Disciplined via public letter of reprimand.* Effective Oct. 29.

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Dr. L. Lee Nelson, Inglewood: Aided and abetted the unlicensed practice of medicine and practiced medicine under fictitious names without a fictitious name permit. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Sept. 26.

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Dr. Henry Nghia-Hieu Nguyen, Fountain Valley: Convicted of four felony federal offenses for conspiracy and fraud, failure to report medical business income to the Internal Revenue Service, and committed acts involving dishonesty or corruption. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, five years’ probation. Effective Aug. 7.

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Dr. Alicia Gutierrez Nugas, Cerritos: Failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of a patient. Disciplined via public reprimand.** Effective Oct. 1.

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Dr. Iwan Sing-Djwan Ong, Riverside: Committed repeated negligence in the care and treatment of a patient with a cardiac condition. Revocation of license stayed, three years’ probation. Effective Oct. 24.

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Dr. Robert F. Owens, Woodland Hills: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence and incompetence and failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of two patients. License revoked. Effective Sept. 12.

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Dr. Lawrence Saks, Torrance: Committed acts of gross negligence, repeated negligence, incompetence; committed insurance fraud, provided false statements and altered medical records in the care and treatment of 10 patients. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 120 days, seven years’ probation. Effective Sept. 11.

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Dr. Lawrence Frederick Smith, Lancaster: Committed unprofessional conduct by violating a Superior Court order and has a condition affecting his ability to practice medicine safely. License revoked. Effective Oct. 14.

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Dr. Clarence Sutton Jr., Granada Hills: Failed to properly supervise a physician assistant. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 30 days, five years’ probation. Effective Oct. 27.

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Dr. Morris Taub, San Pedro: Committed acts of unprofessional conduct in the care and treatment of a patient and failed to maintain adequate and accurate medical records in the care and treatment of two patients. Revocation of license stayed, 35 months’ probation. Effective Sept. 29.

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Dr. David Stephen Wilgarde, Palm Springs: Engaged in sexual misconduct in the care and treatment of a patient. Revocation of license stayed, license suspended for 60 days, five years’ probation. Effective Sept. 11.

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Source: Medical Board of California, Sacramento.

Los Angeles Times

* 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.