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News Release — November 6, 2002
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
November 6, 2002
Medical Board Seeks Temporary Restraining Order
Against Two Redding Physicians
SACRAMENTO-The Medical Board of California announced today its intention to seek a Temporary Restraining Order from the Shasta County Superior Court prohibiting Chae Hyun Moon, M.D. and Fidel Realyvasquez, M.D. from practicing medicine, pending its further investigation into charges that the two physicians performed unnecessary, life-threatening surgeries on perhaps dozens of unsuspecting patients. The Board has requested that the Office of the Attorney General file court documents seeking the order immediately. Based on information received from the FBI's and its own investigation into Moon and Realyvasquez, the Board is requesting a restraining order while it completes its investigation into allegations against the two physicians.
With the information that has been brought to its attention, the Board has probable cause to believe that the invasive coronary procedures were unnecessarily performed on many known and unknown Moon and Realyvasquez patients since 1995. Based upon this information and the FBI's investigation, the Board expects that patient records, tests and other documentation will show that many patients did not suffer from any significant coronary artery disease which required immediate, invasive coronary procedures and that these procedures were performed unnecessarily.
"After reviewing the allegations already brought forward, I believe that the continued practice of medicine by these physicians poses an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of the public," said Ron Joseph, Executive Director of the Medical Board.
The FBI is currently conducting an investigation of the two physicians for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, false statements relating to healthcare matters, and healthcare fraud. Both physicians are practicing medicine at the Redding Medical Center in Redding, California, which is a 238-bed, general hospital.
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The Medical Board of California is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating physicians in this state.
www.medbd.ca.gov
Information about specific physicians: (916) 263-2382
Complaint line: (800) 633-2322
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