Doctor turns in medical license for reportedly viewing child porn at work
Dave Thomas
San Diego News Examiner
December 22, 2011
An area doctor was prohibited from practicing medicine after he was reportedly nabbed viewing child porn in his El Cajon practice.
According to a 10News report, Dr. Mark Zweifach had to turn in his medical license earlier this month as a result of being caught looking at images of child porn while at work. Reports say Zweifach has been practicing medicine since 1982.
The California Medical Board records noted:
"In about July, August, and September 2007, Respondent, a physician with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, California, used his Kaiser Permanente assigned computer in his office in the Kaiser Permanente Bostonia Medical Office Building, located in El Cajon, California, to access suspected child pornography websites on the internet. When confronted by Kaiser Permanente investigators, Respondent, admitted accessing the websites at work, and further admitted an addiction to internet pornography."
After it was discovered he had viewed child pornography, records show Zweifach -- who ceased working at Kaiser Permanente in 2007 -- voluntarily suspended his practice, but the board did not order him to surrender his license until this December. The board also required Zweifach to register as a sex offender.
Showing posts with label doctor's license suspended. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctor's license suspended. Show all posts
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Encinitas psychiatrist reportedly prescribed wrong dosage to patients; admitted drinking problem
Doctor’s License Suspended, Alcoholism Alleged
By Lauren Steussy and Paul Krueger
NBC San Diego
Oct 5, 2011
An Encinitas doctor’s license was temporarily suspended by a state judge, after several patients and an investigator presented evidence that he was practicing while intoxicated.
Patients allege that Dennis M. Pavlinac, a psychiatrist, wrote incorrect prescriptions, could not remember who his patients were and had difficulty recalling what he was doing, according to court documents.
His office assistant was often concerned about Pavlinac, and says in the complaints that the doctor admitted to having an alcohol abuse problem several times over the past year.
Pavlinac was also arrested in 2005 for driving under the influence.
The Medical Board of California filed a petition against Pavlinac at the end of September. Since many of the accusers believed Pavlinac was a danger to his patients, the board asked for an immediate suspension of his license.
Judge Robert Walker granted the suspension on September 20. Pavlinac now awaits a hearing to determine whether his license will be permanently suspended.
NBCSanDiego contacted Pavlinac for a comment, but the call was not immediately returned. A voicemail recording stated that he will be out on medical leave for three weeks.
The office assistant quoted in the petition heard many complaints from patients – for example, on August 16, Pavlinac arrived late to an appointment, but was unable to fit the key in the door because his hands were shaking, the petition said. A patient described Pavlinac as acting drunk. He reportedly ran into his desk and often asked repeated questions.
The same day, Pavlinac told a patient he was sorry he missed her appointment, to which the patient responded, “Dr. Pavlinac, I saw you yesterday. We met for 45 minutes, remember?”
Later, an investigator arrived to collect a urine sample. Pavlinac told her that he was “having a heck of a time getting sober,” the complaint read.
Julie D'Angelo Fellmeth with the USD Center for Public Interest Law said that if the allegations are true, there could be dire consequences.
"If a doctor prescribes the wrong dose for someone, that could be a matter of life and death."
Fellmeth added that although the Medical Board is likely understaffed and underfunded, delaying the suspension as long as they did was potentially dangerous. There ought to be a more direct process for cases in which doctors might be practicing under the influence, she said...
By Lauren Steussy and Paul Krueger
NBC San Diego
Oct 5, 2011
An Encinitas doctor’s license was temporarily suspended by a state judge, after several patients and an investigator presented evidence that he was practicing while intoxicated.
Patients allege that Dennis M. Pavlinac, a psychiatrist, wrote incorrect prescriptions, could not remember who his patients were and had difficulty recalling what he was doing, according to court documents.
His office assistant was often concerned about Pavlinac, and says in the complaints that the doctor admitted to having an alcohol abuse problem several times over the past year.
Pavlinac was also arrested in 2005 for driving under the influence.
The Medical Board of California filed a petition against Pavlinac at the end of September. Since many of the accusers believed Pavlinac was a danger to his patients, the board asked for an immediate suspension of his license.
Judge Robert Walker granted the suspension on September 20. Pavlinac now awaits a hearing to determine whether his license will be permanently suspended.
NBCSanDiego contacted Pavlinac for a comment, but the call was not immediately returned. A voicemail recording stated that he will be out on medical leave for three weeks.
The office assistant quoted in the petition heard many complaints from patients – for example, on August 16, Pavlinac arrived late to an appointment, but was unable to fit the key in the door because his hands were shaking, the petition said. A patient described Pavlinac as acting drunk. He reportedly ran into his desk and often asked repeated questions.
The same day, Pavlinac told a patient he was sorry he missed her appointment, to which the patient responded, “Dr. Pavlinac, I saw you yesterday. We met for 45 minutes, remember?”
Later, an investigator arrived to collect a urine sample. Pavlinac told her that he was “having a heck of a time getting sober,” the complaint read.
Julie D'Angelo Fellmeth with the USD Center for Public Interest Law said that if the allegations are true, there could be dire consequences.
"If a doctor prescribes the wrong dose for someone, that could be a matter of life and death."
Fellmeth added that although the Medical Board is likely understaffed and underfunded, delaying the suspension as long as they did was potentially dangerous. There ought to be a more direct process for cases in which doctors might be practicing under the influence, she said...
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