Each year, about 150 California physicians lose their license to practice medicine due to surrender or revocation. However, only about 10 percent, 15 or so, attempt to reinstate their medical license through a petition for reinstatement. Reinstating a surrendered or revoked California medical license is not a lost cause. With proper preparation, organization, patience, persistence
California Medical Board Licensing
Physician Given a Reprimand after the Medical Board Demanded a Five-Year Probation
The Medical Board of California brought an accusation against our doctor client for a 0.11% blood alcohol level drunk driving conviction. The Medical Board cited the fact that the physician admitted to the police officer that he was on call in demanding harsh punishment. In settlement negotiations, the Board’s minimum offer was a five year…
Trends in Medical Board License Defense in California
The California Medical Board received 8,679 complaints in fiscal year 2015-16 according to its latest comprehensive enforcement activity report. During that same period, 299 accusations were filed by the Medical Board of California. Medical license defense cases came from complaints overwhelmingly from the public, but also from complaints from license and professional groups and other…
The Role of the Medical Expert Reviewer at the Medical Board Investigation Interview
The Medical Board of California investigates complaints against physicians using its team of investigators who work from its headquarters in Sacramento and from its field offices. Complaints may come from CURES reports reviews, 805 reports, lawsuits, or patient complaints. For many complaints, an assigned investigator will contact the physician and ask the physician to…
Understanding the “Unusual Circumstances” Background Questions on the Medical Board of California License Application
The Medical Board of California’s physician license application asks about "unusual circumstances" in both medical school and during residency. These questions can be a trap for the unwary. First off, the applicant sends forms to the medical school and residency program(s) which have identical "unusual circumstances" questions. The program or school responds directly to the…
California Medical Board Investigations of Criminal Actions
The California Medical Board routinely investigates criminal convictions and often even criminal arrests suffered by California physicians. These investigations are handled by Board investigators out of field offices throughout California, including offices in Tustin, Cerritos and Valencia in southern California. Thoughtful preparation for one of these interviews can make the difference between receiving a career…
Avoiding Sunset, Medical Board Faces Continuing Pressure to Step Up Investigations
Facing possible “sunset” this year (expiration of the legal authorization to exist), the Medical Board of California is nearing a renewal for another four years after having successfully avoided a major overhaul. SB 304 will move the Medical Board’s investigators to the Department of Consumer Affairs. The Medical Board currently maintains its own force of…
Medical Board Investigations Closed Without Discipline
One of our most common case types is the Board investigation into criminal convictions suffered by licensees. We are very proud of our track record resulting in the almost all of these cases being closed without any adverse action by the Board. Only attorneys who regularly handle Board investigations can anticipate the Board’s concerns and…
Building a Defense Against California Medical Board Discipline Triggered by Criminal Matters
A license law attorney brings a long-term perspective of potential future license consequences that can educate the criminal defense attorney and his client. One of the biggest mistakes that physicians make is to fail to appreciate the serious fallout and lasting career damage that can result from a criminal investigation or prosecution.
Continue Reading Building a Defense Against California Medical Board Discipline Triggered by Criminal Matters
CURES Database Tracks Suspicious Prescription Activity
For about 70 years, the California Department of Justice tracked prescriptions of narcotic medications as a means to detect prescription drug abuse. In 2008, then-Attorney General Jerry Brown set out to modernize the system, which came to be known as CURES, or Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System, so that instead of calling or…