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News Release — March 21, 2005
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
March 21, 2005
Medical Board Accusation Leads to Surrender
of Corcoran State Prison Physician's Medical License
SACRAMENTO—Facing a formal Accusation by the Medical Board of California for multiple violations of the Medical Practice Act, Corcoran State Prison physician James Pendleton, Jr., M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license was accepted by the board on March 11, 2005 and became effective on March 18, 2005.
The Medical Board accused Pendleton of violating Business and Professions Code sections 726 (sexual misconduct), 2234 (unprofessional conduct), 2234(b) (gross negligence), and 2234(e) (corrupt and dishonest acts) in his care and treatment of a Corcoran State Prison inmate. Pendleton is accused of engaging in sexual relations with an inmate/ patient while the patient was incarcerated, and continued the relationship after the inmate's release from prison.
Pendleton agreed, by way of stipulation, that the board could establish that he engaged in a sexual relationship after the inmate was paroled. Additionally, from February 1999 to October 2000, Pendleton provided the parolee with financial assistance. The parolee ended the relationship in October 2000, and a little over a year later was returned to Corcoran State Prison for violating parole. Upon learning that the inmate had returned to the prison, Pendleton attempted to pursue the sexual relationship with him. The inmate objected and reported it to Internal Affairs at Corcoran State Prison. Pendleton was relieved of his duties at the prison after, as part of the investigation, a camera and recording device substantiated the inmate's allegations. Pendleton surrendered his license based on the allegation of a sexual relationship with the parolee which constituted gross negligence and unprofessional conduct; however, he denied all other allegations.
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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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