News Release — March 18, 2002

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March 18, 2002

Medical Board Investigation Leads to Arrest of
Unlicensed Practitioner in Ventura

SACRAMENTO—Acting on an anonymous tip, investigators for the Medical Board of California conducted an undercover operation which lead to the arrest of Kathleen Hopkins, an unlicensed individual. A Medical Board investigator was examined and sold a controlled substance, phentermine, for weight loss by Hopkins at a diet clinic on Telegraph Road in Ventura. Although additional controlled substances and medical equipment were found and seized from the clinic, no physician was associated with it.

Hopkins was booked into the Ventura County Jail with the assistance of the Ventura Police Department. She was charged with violating:

• Health and Safety Code section 11379, furnishing a controlled substance without a prescription by a physician;
• Health and Safety Code section 11378, possessing for sale a controlled substance;
• Health and Safety Code section 11377, possessing a controlled substance;
• Health and Safety Code section 11352.1, operating a location that dispenses controlled substances or dangerous drugs; and
• Business and Professions Code section 2052, practicing medicine without a license.

Patients who believe they have been treated by unlicensed individuals are encouraged to contact the Medical Board of California's toll-free complaint line at (800) 633-2322. To determine if an individual is a licensed physician, please contact the Board at (916) 263-2382, or visit the Board's Web site at www.medbd.ca.gov.

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The Medical Board of California is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating physicians in this state.

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