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News Release — June 14, 2004
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
June 14, 2004
Medical Board of California Files Accusation Against Los Altos Physician
SACRAMENTO—The Medical Board of California has filed an Accusation of wrongdoing against Deborah Ann Metzger, M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologist from Los Altos. The board sought and received an interim suspension order on April 8, 2004, prohibiting her from performing any surgical procedures. That order is still in effect, pending resolution of the Accusation.
The Accusation charges Metzger with gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, and incompetence in the care and treatment of six patients, women who complained to the board. In each case the board charges that Metzger diagnosed patients with multiple hernias which in fact did not exist, and subjected them to unnecessary surgical procedures for the treatment of theses non-existent "hernias." In the most recent case the board is aware of, the patient was so injured by Metzger's procedures that she had to undergo emergency surgery for life-threatening conditions and spent four weeks in a hospital for treatment.
In all, Metzger performed 11 surgeries on the six women. Two medical experts for the board who reviewed the records concluded that the surgeries were not only unnecessary but also badly performed. In several of these instances she inflicted injury on healthy tissue in the course of performing these surgeries.
The case will next be scheduled for a hearing before an administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings in Oakland.
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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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