News Release — January 6, 2006

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January 6, 2006

Medical Board of California Accusation Leads to
Surrender of Newport Beach Physician's Medical License

SACRAMENTO—Facing an Accusation of wrongdoing by the Medical Board of California, Newport Beach physician Dennis Greg Jacobson, M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license was ordered on December 29, 2005 and became effective on January 5, 2006. Jacobson's license was suspended on June 14, 2005, as the result of the issuance of an Interim Suspension Order, and remained suspended up to the time he surrendered his license. Medical Board Executive Director Dave Thornton stated, "The mission of the Medical Board is to protect healthcare consumers. We work diligently to achieve our mission by vigorously enforcing the Medical Practice Act."

In an October 2005 First Amended Accusation, the Medical Board accused Jacobson of unprofessional conduct for violating several Business and Professions Code sections including 2239(a) (danger to public safety due to narcotic and/or controlled substance self-use), 2280 (practice of medicine while under the influence of a narcotic), 2234(b) (gross negligence), and 2354 (failure to complete board's Diversion Program).

In March 2005, Newport Beach officers responded to a hit-and-run traffic collision involving Jacobson's vehicle. While impounding the unlocked vehicle, the officers performed an inventory search and found a brown paper bag containing several full vials of fentanyl and a bottle of Demerol. Officers also found an empty vial of fentanyl and a used syringe. Following a failed field sobriety evaluation, Jacobson was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. Once booked at the Newport Beach Police Department jail, Jacobson submitted a blood test which resulted in positive findings of fentanyl and Demerol and was additionally charged with violations of Health and Safety Code sections 11350 (possession of a controlled substance) and 11550 (being under the influence of a controlled substance); Vehicle Code sections 23152(a) (misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs) and 20002(a) (misdemeanor hit and run).

Jacobson is accused of having a history of self-use of narcotics and/or controlled substances in a manner dangerous or injurious to himself, to any other person or to the public, to the extent that such use impairs his ability to practice medicine. According to several former employees who worked with him in 2004, Jacobson closed his medical practice in September 2004 due to self-use of narcotics and/or controlled substances. In particular, on September 2, 2004, his registered nurse observed him to be under the influence of narcotics prior to performing a scheduled cosmetic surgery on a patient who was already in a surgical gown and pre-medicated in preparation of the surgery. Due to his condition, the surgery was canceled. During the same month, the nurse also discovered that injectable Demerol and seven ampules of fentanyl were unaccountably missing from Jacobson's drug inventory. A former scrub technician also observed Jacobson, on multiple occasions during 2004, engaged in erratic behavior indicating drug use. In addition to finding used syringes discarded in the office trash can, the scrub technician also noted several ampules of fentanyl unaccountably missing.

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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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