An Anaheim physician whose license had been revoked in 2002 but reinstated is again facing serious allegations of negligence after the death of a woman during an abortion. The license of the Anaheim obstetrician-gynecologist was suspended pending a recent California Medical Board hearing. According to records, the doctor is being investigated for the following:

• Administering anesthesia without knowing the safe dosage
• Practicing medicine in an unlicensed office
• Performing surgery outside a hospital without malpractice insurance

The doctor voluntarily surrendered his medical license in 2002 after a two-year California Medical Board investigation. The investigation was prompted by the deaths of two infants in addition to allegations of lying to patients, having sex with a patient in his office and performing unnecessary hysterectomies. In 2007, his license was reinstated, outraging many of his former clients.

The doctor’s current troubles stem from a July 2009 incident where a 30-year-old woman was undergoing an abortion procedure. Records indicate that the doctor injected lidocaine into her cervix, which caused the woman to have a severe reaction. The doctor reportedly performed CPR, but Board records indicate that there was a “significant delay” in calling 911. The woman was in full cardiac arrest when the paramedics arrived and died in the hospital six days later. An autopsy cited the cause of death as “lidocaine toxicity.”

Hiring an experienced California medical malpractice attorney is a key element of a successful medical malpractice lawsuit. An Orange County medical malpractice attorney should have many years of experience assisting clients in these cases and should have extensive knowledge of proper medical procedures. Your Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyer should also have the resources to bring in expert witnesses and handle lengthy trials. Call 888.848.5084 to schedule a free consultation with the experienced California medical malpractice lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas today.

The University of California’s program that evaluates the competence of doctors who have been found guilty of infractions from sloppy record keeping to substance abuse has attracted a great deal of attention as the country struggles with a shortage of doctors. The Physician Assessment and Clinical Education Program, or PACE, uses a variety of testing protocols to gauge doctors’ skills, knowledge and judgment when they have been found incompetent or suffer from addictions that affect their ability to practice medicine.

A Harvard University patient-safety expert estimated recently that as many as ten percent of the physicians in the U.S. will demonstrate “significant deficiencies in knowledge or skills” at some point during their careers. The program evaluates doctors experiencing problems such as these:

• Age-related cognitive decline
• Mental health problems
• Substance abuse
• Abusive behavior
• Incompetence
• Other issues that impair their ability to practice medicine

While California medical malpractice lawyers such as Samer Habbas understand that the country is experiencing a shortage of doctors, they are also concerned about incompetent or otherwise unfit doctors returning to practice. They understand that the PACE program is fairly rigorous in its evaluation of doctors, but California medical malpractice lawyers like Samer Habbas see the victims of medical malpractice every day.

If you or an immediate family member has been a victim of medical malpractice, call 888.848.5084 to schedule a free consultation with Southern California medical malpractice attorney Samer Habbas. He can explain the complex issues that determine the basis of a medical malpractice case and advise you as to the legal options available. For more information, call 888.848.5084 today.

Resource link: University of California Program Examines Doctors Found Guilty of Infractions