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News Release — November 19, 2003
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
November 19, 2003
Medical Board Accusation Leads to Surrender
of San Francisco Physician's Medical License
SACRAMENTO—Facing a formal Accusation of wrongdoing by the Medical Board of California, San Francisco physician James Kevin Rist, M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license was ordered on Nov. 17, 2003 and becomes effective on Nov. 24, 2003.
The Medical Board obtained an Interim Suspension Order (ISO) on Rist in July 2003 based on complaints of alleged patient abandonment. After separately interviewing peers and relatives of Rist, a Board investigator learned that there was an extreme change in his behavior over the past year. During that time, Rist allegedly failed to meet financial responsibilities which included falling deeply into debt and failing to keep appointments with patients.
Investigators met with Rist on March 14, 2003 and he confirmed his financial problems and admitted that he may not have followed up with some of his patients. He provided a urine sample that when analyzed tested positive for the presence of Methamphetamine.
On April 9, 2003, Rist admitted to Board investigators that he had ingested a form of Methamphetamine known as "crystal meth" by smoking it over a period of approximately one year. He also signed a voluntary agreement for a mental examination but failed to make or keep the appointment.
Subsequently, the Board filed an Accusation against Rist on Sept. 16, 2003 which ultimately led to the Decision and Order to surrender his license to practice medicine in California. Rist agreed that if he ever files an application for re-licensure or reinstatement in California, the Board will treat his application as a petition for reinstatement of a revoked license. Further, prior to filing a petition for reconsideration, Rist shall first pay $4,800 in satisfaction of cost recovery for the Board to consider his petition for reinstatement.
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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.medbd.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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