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News Release — May 26, 2004
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
May 26, 2004
Medical Board Accusation Leads to Surrender
of Carlsbad Physician's Medical License
SACRAMENTO—Facing a formal Accusation of wrongdoing by the Medical Board of California, Carlsbad physician William E. Watkins, M.D. signed a stipulation surrendering his license to practice medicine in California. The surrender, which was accepted by the Board's Division of Medical Quality on May 20, 2004, becomes effective on May 27, 2004.
Watkins' license was suspended on July 24, 2003, as the result of the issuance of an Interim Suspension Order, and remained suspended up to the time he surrendered his medical license.
When he surrendered his medical license, Watkins was facing disciplinary charges arising out of his care and treatment of four patients upon whom he had performed cosmetic surgeries at his office during the calendar years 2000 and 2001. In summary, those charges alleged that: (1) Watkins had performed breast augmentation surgeries on all four patients, as well as additional facelift surgeries on one of the patients; (2) that all of the surgeries were performed in Watkins' office while the patients were under local anesthesia and nerve blocks rather than under general anesthesia; and (3) that each patient had suffered severe pain during their breast augmentation surgeries.
It was further alleged that Watkins failed to adequately monitor the patients during their surgeries. All four patients were alleged to have later undergone subsequent corrective surgery by a plastic surgeon. As a result of his conduct, Watkins was charged with gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence, failure to maintain adequate and accurate records, and aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine.
Watkins will lose all rights and privileges to practice medicine in California on May 27, 2004.
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The mission of the Medical Board is to protect healthcare consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied healthcare professions and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act.
If you have a question or complaint about the healthcare you are receiving, the Board encourages you to visit its Web site at www.caldocinfo.ca.gov or for questions call the Consumer Information Line at (916) 263-2382, or with complaints call (800) 633-2322.
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