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News Release — August 31, 2004
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
August 31, 2004
Medical Board of California Accusation Leads to
Surrender of Pasadena Physician's Medical License
SACRAMENTO—Facing further disciplinary action by the Medical Board of California, Pasadena physician Richard S. Infante has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license becomes effective today at 5 p.m.
The Medical Board adopted a Stipulated Settlement and Disciplinary Order that revoked Infante's license to practice medicine. The revocation was stayed by the board and Infante's license was placed on seven years' probation with various terms and conditions, some of which included: abstaining completely from the personal use or possession of controlled substances not including those that were lawfully prescribed to him for a bona fide illness or condition by another physician; abstaining completely from the use of alcohol; enrolling in a prescribing practices course; biological fluid testing; enrolling in the board's Diversion program until it was determined that further treatment and rehabilitation were no longer necessary; practice monitoring; obeying all laws; submitting quarterly reports; complying with probation surveillance; and paying the board's investigative and prosecution costs.
Infante's probation was subject to revocation for failing to comply with the monitoring conditions that required a board-approved monitor to practice medicine, and for the commission of dishonest acts for making false statements to a board investigator. In addition, Infante violated the terms of his probation when he prescribed hydrochlorothiazide to a patient without medical indication.
To determine the degree of discipline, the board also took into consideration that on March 23, 1989, in a prior disciplinary action (Case No. D-3689), Infante's license was revoked, the revocation was stayed, and he was placed on five years' probation. In the course of that disciplinary action, Infante admitted that he had: prescribed dangerous drugs and controlled substances without a good faith prior examination and medical indication under circumstances giving rise to four causes for discipline; that he had been convicted of three counts of the sale of controlled substances; and that he had been convicted of three counts of prescribing controlled substances to persons not under his treatment.
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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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