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News Release — November 4, 2002
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
November 4, 2002
Medical Board Accusation Leads to Surrender of
Indio Physician's Medical License
SACRAMENTO-Facing a formal Accusation of negligent care by the Medical Board of California, Indio physician Gerald John Scallion, M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license was ordered on October 29, 2002 and is effective November 5, 2002.
The Medical Board accused Scallion of violating Business and Professions Code sections 2234 (b), (c), and (d) and 2266 in the care and treatment of three patients. Scallion performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery and damaged the bile duct structure on two patients, showing a lack of education, training, knowledge or skill to perform this procedure. Family members of one patient repeatedly left messages complaining of post surgical complications, yet he failed to respond, resulting in emergency surgery to repair damage from the bile leak and also requiring followup reconstructive surgery. Scallion referred the second patient with bile duct injury to another hospital for reconstructive surgery.
A third patient was referred to Scallion with a mammogram result revealing a microcalcification. He examined the patient and recommended excisional biopsy of the area. He performed the biopsy and the resulting pathology report found a non?spreading cancer in one breast. At a follow-up appointment, Scallion again neglected to advise this patient of various options of treatment including the advantages of total mastectomy and a quadrant excision, nor did he discuss post operative radiation therapy or possible hormonal therapy.
In all three cases, Scallion was accused of unprofessional conduct including gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence and failure to maintain adequate and accurate records. He agreed that should he ever apply for relicensure in California, the charges and allegations in the Accusation will be considered true and correct.
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The Medical Board of California is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating physicians in this state.
www.medbd.ca.gov
Information about specific physicians: (916) 263-2382
Complaint line: (800) 633-2322
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