No One is Immune to Medical Errors

Medical Board of California Blunders

This is a database of Medical Board of California disciplinary actions that were NOT done in the name of patient safety. 

Category Abbreviations: MH=Medical Harm, SM=Sexual Misconduct, AD=Addiction, OP=Over-Prescribing, OT=Other.

You can click the license number for more information on the doctor, or an entry in the link column to take you to an article or video if it's available. 




	CATEGORY LICENSE NUMBER DOCTOR'S NAME DESCRIPTION DISCIPLINE LINK CITY




	MH 74735 Naim, Arjang Doctor responsible for the death of TV Judge Glenda Hatchett's daughter-in-law. He allowed her to bleed to death after a c-section at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The Medical Board gave him a lighter sentence than their own guidelines call for. See the son, Charles Johnson, testify before the medical board by clicking the media link. Probation—4 years Charles Johnson Testimony Los Angeles


	MH 36134 Liu, Long-Dei A jury found a Garden Grove obstetrician negligent in the death of a 26-year-old mother from China, finding he abandoned his patient in an intensive care unit after she had bled profusely. Probation—35 months, with terms and conditions. Article Garden Grove


	MH 45144 Headrick, Daniel Overdosed a 21-year-old to death who had checked himself into hospital to get off pain meds. Told nursing staff to not check on patient in the night, and he was found dead the next morning, already in rigor mortis. The Medical Board bartered away all egregious charges and gave him a public reprimand. Public Reprimand Video Testimony Downey


	OT 108903 Partridge, Liberty Convicted of a misdemeanor offense for assaulting his wife and the Board gave him a public reprimand Public Reprimand Lompoc


	OT 30400 Jones, Nolan Hospital discipline, probation, probation extended, malpractice judgment, probation extended, license revoked, convicted of medi-cal fraud, license reinstated and put on probation again. Probation, revocation, malpractice judgment Los Angeles


	OT 48224 Fisher, Frank The complaint process took 2,134 days (5 years, 10 months and 4 days) from the time the accusation was filed to the time the decision was filed and then they only gave him 3 years probation for an accusation with 39 causes of discipline. Probation—3 years Article Rio Dell


	MH 60010 Kolinsky, David 3 patient deaths and the medical board felt that only deserved probation. Probation—5 years Article Monterey


	AD 80909 Rodgers, Ruth License suspended, probation, citation, citation #2, cease practice order, court order, citation #3, citation #4, citation #5, cease practice order, petition to revoke probation. Probation, cease practice, citations Larkspur


	MH 72741 Benton, Alphonso Patient death, but the Board only gave him a Public Reprimand. Public Reprimand Chino Hills


	OT 45798 Walter, Gary DUI, questionable autopsies, but the Board only focuses on the DUI. Probation—3 years Article Visalia


	MH 34147 Shah, Umesh His patient ended up brain damaged and in a permanent vegetative state, but the Board only gave him a public letter of reprimand. Public Letter of Reprimand Chino


	OT 15640 Powers, Thomas Public Reprimand, patient death, alcohol addiction and cognitive impairment, 4 citations, license suspended for tax problems, probation, and finally a surrendered license. Why did  the board give him so many chances? Probation—3 years+1, Public Letter of Reprimand Article Santa Ana


	OT 86750 Simental, Michael Has a mental breakdown, lit his house on fire, was found laying outside on the street naked, holding his penis and asked the police to shoot him, and told them he had a gun and was going to act as a sniper and shoot people. Probation—2 years Article Corona


	OT 66022 Arunasalam, Siva Accusation filed, then withdrawn. Malpractice judgment. 2nd accusation filed and then withdrawn. Public Reprimand filed and then withdrawn. Hospital Discipline. No Medical Board Discipline NONE Article: $1.34 million verdict Victorville


	AD 12103 Castner, Edward Was found on the bathroom floor in 2015 under the influence of drugs and alcohol, with empty pill bottles and an apparent suicide note. Arrested for DUI in 2016. Court put him on 3 years probation. Misdemeanor DUI conviction in 2017. MBC put him on 5 years probation in 2018. In Feb 2019 they petitioned to revoke his probation, but left him still practicing. Probation—5 years Arcadia


	AD 50292 Patel, Hitesh Hospital discipline in 1993. 5 years of MBC probation. 2nd accusation filed in 2014. Arrested for DUI in 2016. 5 more years of probation in 2015. Misdemeanor DUI conviction in 2017. Petition to revoke probation in 2019 which was eventually withdrawn. Probation—5 years, twice. Article Anaheim


	OT 102385 Ho, Koai-Ky When sent for mandated further education, the school officials opined that he "continue to receive ongoing psychiatric care."  With that the Board dismissed the accusation and did nothing further. Public Letter of Reprimand Garden Grove

CATEGORY	LICENSE NUMBER	DOCTOR'S NAME	DESCRIPTION	DISCIPLINE	LINK	CITY
MH	74735	Naim, Arjang	Doctor responsible for the death of TV Judge Glenda Hatchett's daughter-in-law. He allowed her to bleed to death after a c-section at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The Medical Board gave him a lighter sentence than their own guidelines call for. See the son, Charles Johnson, testify before the medical board by clicking the media link.	Probation—4 years	Charles Johnson Testimony	Los Angeles
MH	36134	Liu, Long-Dei	A jury found a Garden Grove obstetrician negligent in the death of a 26-year-old mother from China, finding he abandoned his patient in an intensive care unit after she had bled profusely.	Probation—35 months, with terms and conditions.	Article	Garden Grove
MH	45144	Headrick, Daniel	Overdosed a 21-year-old to death who had checked himself into hospital to get off pain meds. Told nursing staff to not check on patient in the night, and he was found dead the next morning, already in rigor mortis. The Medical Board bartered away all egregious charges and gave him a public reprimand.	Public Reprimand	Video Testimony	Downey
OT	108903	Partridge, Liberty	Convicted of a misdemeanor offense for assaulting his wife and the Board gave him a public reprimand	Public Reprimand		Lompoc
OT	30400	Jones, Nolan	Hospital discipline, probation, probation extended, malpractice judgment, probation extended, license revoked, convicted of medi-cal fraud, license reinstated and put on probation again.	Probation, revocation, malpractice judgment		Los Angeles
OT	48224	Fisher, Frank	The complaint process took 2,134 days (5 years, 10 months and 4 days) from the time the accusation was filed to the time the decision was filed and then they only gave him 3 years probation for an accusation with 39 causes of discipline.	Probation—3 years	Article	Rio Dell
MH	60010	Kolinsky, David	3 patient deaths and the medical board felt that only deserved probation.	Probation—5 years	Article	Monterey
AD	80909	Rodgers, Ruth	License suspended, probation, citation, citation #2, cease practice order, court order, citation #3, citation #4, citation #5, cease practice order, petition to revoke probation.	Probation, cease practice, citations		Larkspur
MH	72741	Benton, Alphonso	Patient death, but the Board only gave him a Public Reprimand.	Public Reprimand		Chino Hills
OT	45798	Walter, Gary	DUI, questionable autopsies, but the Board only focuses on the DUI.	Probation—3 years	Article	Visalia
MH	34147	Shah, Umesh	His patient ended up brain damaged and in a permanent vegetative state, but the Board only gave him a public letter of reprimand.	Public Letter of Reprimand		Chino
OT	15640	Powers, Thomas	Public Reprimand, patient death, alcohol addiction and cognitive impairment, 4 citations, license suspended for tax problems, probation, and finally a surrendered license. Why did the board give him so many chances?	Probation—3 years+1, Public Letter of Reprimand	Article	Santa Ana
OT	86750	Simental, Michael	Has a mental breakdown, lit his house on fire, was found laying outside on the street naked, holding his penis and asked the police to shoot him, and told them he had a gun and was going to act as a sniper and shoot people.	Probation—2 years	Article	Corona
OT	66022	Arunasalam, Siva	Accusation filed, then withdrawn. Malpractice judgment. 2nd accusation filed and then withdrawn. Public Reprimand filed and then withdrawn. Hospital Discipline. No Medical Board Discipline	NONE	Article: $1.34 million verdict	Victorville
AD	12103	Castner, Edward	Was found on the bathroom floor in 2015 under the influence of drugs and alcohol, with empty pill bottles and an apparent suicide note. Arrested for DUI in 2016. Court put him on 3 years probation. Misdemeanor DUI conviction in 2017. MBC put him on 5 years probation in 2018. In Feb 2019 they petitioned to revoke his probation, but left him still practicing.	Probation—5 years		Arcadia
AD	50292	Patel, Hitesh	Hospital discipline in 1993. 5 years of MBC probation. 2nd accusation filed in 2014. Arrested for DUI in 2016. 5 more years of probation in 2015. Misdemeanor DUI conviction in 2017. Petition to revoke probation in 2019 which was eventually withdrawn.	Probation—5 years, twice.	Article	Anaheim
OT	102385	Ho, Koai-Ky	When sent for mandated further education, the school officials opined that he "continue to receive ongoing psychiatric care." With that the Board dismissed the accusation and did nothing further.	Public Letter of Reprimand		Garden Grove