News Release — February 27, 2006

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February 27, 2006

Medical Board of California Accusation Leads
To Surrender of Anaheim Physician's Medical License

SACRAMENTO—Facing an Accusation by the Medical Board of California alleging unprofessional conduct, Anaheim physician Peter Aloys Ahles, M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license was ordered on February 17, 2006, and became effective on February 24, 2006. Ahles' medical license has been suspended since September 26, 2005, following 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."

The Medical Board accused Ahles of unprofessional conduct for violating state and federal drug statutes regulating dangerous drugs and controlled substances. Following undercover purchases of large quantities of pharmaceutical narcotics from Ahles by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the agents and Medical Board investigators arrested him at his medical office on June 14, 2005 and also executed search warrants. Searches of Ahles' residence, medical office and car resulted in the seizure of over $1.3 million in cash, along with several large denomination cashier checks and U.S. Postal money orders. The cash was found in Ahles' residence, stored in envelopes that were located inside luggage bags and suitcases. Many of the envelopes were labeled with his name, the amount of money contained in the envelope and the date the money was apparently received, beginning in 2003. The cashiers checks and money orders were found in Ahles' medical office. In addition, agents seized at both locations numerous containers of Schedule 2-5 controlled substances along with records and documents. On July 13, 2005, Ahles was formally indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple violations of Title 21, U.S.C. section 841(a)(1), unlawful distribution of controlled substances.

The Medical Board also accused Ahles of additional unprofessional conduct for violating Business and Professions Code sections 2234(b)(c)(d)(e) (gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence and acts of dishonesty) and 2266 (failure to maintain adequate and accurate medical records) in his care and treatment of one patient. The 39-year-old female died of a drug overdose from the combined effects of fluoxetene (Prozac), Oxycodone, and diazepam (Valium). At the time of her death, the patient was also the roommate and/or girlfriend of Ahles' son. Ahles had been treating and issuing prescriptions to the patient from approximately January 31, 2003 to November 5, 2003, four days prior to her death. During this treatment period, Ahles had been prescribing various prescription medications that included Prozac and Valium, as well as Norco and Oxycontin, both narcotic controlled substances, for alleged various medical and psychiatric problems. Although the patient's medical records failed to document that Oxycontin had been prescribed to her, pharmacy records indicated that Ahles had in fact issued such narcotic prescriptions. Ahles also admitted knowledge that the patient was a drug addict, with a known cocaine and pharmaceutical drug-abuse problem, which rendered his prescribing of sedatives and narcotics specifically contraindicated.

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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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