Doctors That Harm, Dr. Wilfred Weinstein + Oxycodone

November 3, 2014
Dr. Wilfred Weinstein
Physician Had An Undetected Years-Long Prescription Drug Habit
LOS ANGELES, CA: In April 2010, Dr. Weinstein was caught shoplifting; when he was searched, police found that he was carrying 291 pills of Oxycodone. Dr. Weinstein was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a felony. He pled guilty.
Over a year later, in August 2011, the Medical Board began an investigation into Dr. Weinstein’s felony conviction. In an interview, Dr. Weinstein admitted that he had an undetected daily drug habit since 2006: he would begin taking oxycodone as early as 6:30 in the morning before heading into work, and he would often take more pills over his lunch break. Dr. Weinstein told the investigator that he had been taking between six to eight oxycodone a day, including workdays. In order to get access to the drugs, he would write prescriptions in his wife’s name and then fill the prescriptions for himself.
Three years after his initial arrest, the Medical Board finally imposed disciplinary action, placing Dr. Weinstein on probation. Six months into his probation, Dr. Weinstein decided that he didn’t want to practice medicine anymore and surrendered his medical license.
Sources: http://www2.mbc.ca.gov/BreezePDL/default.aspx?licenseType=A&licenseNumber=31553
Proposition 46, the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act, will enact the first law in the nation to require random drug and alcohol tests of physicians in hospitals, modeled after the Federal Aviation Administration testing program that has successfully reduced substance abuse by pilots. Doctors found to be impaired on the job will have their license suspended. If Prop 46 had been in effect, Dr. Weinstein’s drug addiction may have been detected, possibly preventing threats to patient safety in the process.
Prop 46 would also require prescribers to check California’s existing and secure prescription drug database, known as CURES, when prescribing Schedule II-III narcotics. If this provision had been in effect, it’s possible that Dr. Weinstein’s illegal prescribing may have been discovered.
Hall of Shame: Insurance Companies Backing No on 46

NorCal Mutual Insurance Company $11,000,000.00 The Doctors Company $10,500,000.00 Cooperative of American Physicians $10,161,489.04 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan $5,000,000.00 Medical Insurance Exchange of California $5,000,000.00 The Dentists Insurance Company $1,620,000.00 The Mutual Risk Retention Group $1,000,000.00 All Insurers: $44,613,583.22 Total: $59,169,984.79

Insurance companies have spent nearly $45 million dollars to oppose Prop 46 in order to shield dangerous doctors like Dr. Weinstein from punishment, at the expense of patient safety, in order to protect their already substantial profits. In total, the opposition to Prop 46 has over $59 million dollars in their warchest, outspending consumer and patient safety advocates more than 8:1.

Senator Barbara Boxer speaks out for Proposition 46! Yes On 46

United States Senator Barbara Boxer speaks supporting Proposition 46 in a new advertisement featuring the photos of children lost to preventable medical errors. Another bunch of reasons to support #Yeson46.

Proposition 46 WIll Bring Improved Patient Safety Protections, Yes On 46.

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Families of victims of medical negligence gathered Monday to urge voters to support a political effort for greater patient safety protections.
Carmen Pack – a mom who says her two children were killed due to medical negligence – and Annette Ramirez, a South Bay mother who lost her arms and legs due to infection after surgery, both say passing Proposition 46 will prevent other families from suffering similar tragedies.
Supporters say Proposition 46 creates greater accountability for medical negligence by indexing a 38-year-old cap on damages for inflation and detecting and deterring physicians’ over-prescribing and substance abuse.
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer was among several officials on hand to endorse the Yes on 46 campaign, which released its first Spanish language television ad featuring Pack whose husband Bob is the author of Prop. 46.
The Pack’s children, Troy, 10, and Alana, 7, were killed by intoxicated driver who had been recklessly prescribed narcotics by multiple doctors at the same Kaiser hospital.
According to the Packs, they were unable to hold doctors legally accountable because of the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act. Passed in 1975, MICRA places a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases.
“If your loved one is killed by medical negligence, no matter how serious or egregious and it’s a child who dies, there’s no wage loss or medical bills, you won’t get an attorney,” said Jamie Court of Consumer Watchdog.
Court says the initiative would raise the existing cap on damages to $1.1 million, giving children and seniors who cannot demonstrate lost wages as a result of their injuries a chance to hold doctors and hospitals accountable for their mistakes.
Video

Doctors That Harm, Why Yes On 46 Is Needed, Doctor Trades Prescription Drugs For Cocaine,

CARMEL, CA: Dr. Bergstrom was arrested based on a report of sexual assault after a night of drinking.
During the trial, the prosecution produced an audiotape which Dr. Bergstrom had accidentally created when he left his office dictation machine on. Dr. Bergstrom was heard buying cocaine, using cocaine, and trading cocaine for sex on the 5.5 hours-long audiotape. Dr. Bergstrom admitted at trial that he traded prescription drugs for cocaine.
The audiotape also recorded Dr. Bergstrom issuing medical orders, dictating patient chart notes, and providing telephone consultations to patients after using, and while under the influence of, cocaine.
During the trial, two other women testified that they were similarly assaulted by Dr. Bergstrom. Both testified that they believed that they may have been drugged.
Dr. Bergstrom was ultimately sentenced to prison for felony sexual battery. As a result, Dr. Bergstrom's medical license was revoked.
Sources: http://www2.mbc.ca.gov/BreezePDL/default.aspx?licenseType=G&licenseNumber=59866
http://www.fugitive.com/2009/09/28/doctor-carl-bergstrom-of-carmel-sentenced-to-six-years-prison-for-forcible-sodomy/
http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_22451966/carmel-physician-carl-bergstrom-be-released-from-jail

Proposition 46, the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act, will enact the first law in the nation to require random drug and alcohol tests of physicians in hospitals, modeled after the Federal Aviation Administration testing program that has successfully reduced substance abuse by pilots. Doctors found to be impaired on the job will have their license suspended. If Prop 46 had been in effect, Dr. Bergstrom's drug abuse may have been detected, possibly preventing threats to patient safety in the process.
Hall of Shame: Insurance Companies Backing No on 46
NorCal Mutual Insurance Company    $11,000,000.00
The Doctors Company    $10,500,000.00
Cooperative of American Physicians    $10,161,489.04
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan    $5,000,000.00
Medical Insurance Exchange of California    $5,000,000.00
The Dentists Insurance Company    $1,620,000.00
The Mutual Risk Retention Group    $1,000,000.00
All Insurers:     $44,613,583.22
Total:     $59,169,984.79
Insurance companies have spent nearly $45 million dollars to oppose Prop 46 in order to shield dangerous doctors like Dr. Bergstrom from punishment, at the expense of patient safety, in order to protect their already substantial profits. In total, the opposition to Prop 46 has over $59 million dollars in their warchest, outspending consumer and patient safety advocates more than 8:1.
Learn more about Proposition 46 and the campaign for patient safety at: www.yeson46.org
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Paid for by Yes on Prop. 46, Your Neighbors for Patient Safety, a Coalition of Consumer Attorneys and Patient Safety Advocates - major funding by Consumer Attorneys of California Issues and Initiative Defense Political Action Committees and Kabateck, Brown, Kellner, LLP.

Redondo Beach Doctor Facing Multiple Drug Charges, Arrested Again On 2 Million Prescription Drug Stash

#yeson46
Another case for those who are still wondering about Yes On 46, These doctors need to be put on watch. Prop 46 will prevent doctor turned drug dealers from operating. It must be really profitable than actual medical work.

A Redondo Beach doctor already charged in two drug cases was arrested Tuesday on charges that he illegally possessed an estimated $2 million in diet pills and other prescription drugs that were found in a Long Beach storage facility.
Dr. Gerard Geoffrey Goryl, who had been barred from possessing narcotics as a result of the two previous pending cases, is now charged with 18 felony drug-related counts in a third case.
The neurologist pleaded not guilty to the latest charges, which include eight counts of possession of narcotics with a restricted license and 10 counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance.
Goryl, 59, was taken into custody after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Redondo Beach Police Department determined that he had a storage locker containing an estimated 500,000 diet pills and other prescription drugs, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The physician was ordered to remain in jail on $1 million bail in connection with the latest case. He had been free on $1 million bail and $120,000 bail in the other two cases against him.
Goryl, who ran a medical clinic called A Better Weigh on Artesia Boulevard, was first arrested in June and charged with nine felony counts involving allegations that he sold prescription drugs to undercover officers.
He was rearrested in August and charged with eight felony counts alleging that he was continuing to sell a prescription diet pill despite being barred from doing so.
A date is scheduled to be set Nov. 17 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
If convicted in all three cases, he faces up to 36 years and eight months behind bars, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Thanks for the link Michael