Doctors in Trouble
When these professionals get into trouble they’re penalized – just like everyone else. This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health. They’ve been convicted of crimes involving battery on their wives; dissuading a witness from testifying; illegal possession of cocaine; conspiracy and fraud; and cheating the IRS. They, in this case, are physicians; their cases: examples of how the California Medical Board disciplines physicians.
Consider, for example, the doctor who suddenly “retires”
from practice, telling his flock that it’s simply time to spend more time with
the family. What he didn’t say, in some
cases, is that his license was “surrendered”, meaning that he resigned his
“under a cloud…while charges are pending.”
Other physicians get public letters of reprimand, licenses revoked,
suspended from practice or probation while undergoing treatment for abuse of
alcohol or drugs. In a recent quarterly Action Report, the State of
In addition to monitoring MD’s, the California State Board
disciplines physician assistants and podiatrists as well. Like physicians, they dispense medication,
perform surgery, and command trust that they should deserve, or else face
action just like other professionals – lawyers, teachers, accountants – who
fail to honor that trust. Speaking of
Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew Davis for CBS News.
Ref: Action Report. Department of Consumer
Affairs, Medical Board of
February, 2004.