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News Release — August 3, 2004
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
August 3, 2004
Medical Board of California Obtains Suspension
of San Jose Physician's License
SACRAMENTO—In response to a petition filed on July 26, 2004, by the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of the Medical Board of California, Administrative Law Judge Jonathan Lew issued a full interim order of suspension against the medical license of Jose K. Reyes, M.D., on July 28, 2004. The suspension order prohibits Reyes from practicing medicine.
After receiving a complaint about Reyes, the board obtained the medical records of nine of his patients, eight of whom were being treated for chronic pain, and submitted them to two medical experts for review. Both experts concluded, after reviewing these records and an interview of Reyes conducted by the board, that Reyes lacks the necessary knowledge and ability to practice medicine safely and that he has placed the health and lives of his patients at risk. Based on the experts' evaluations, the interim executive director of the board filed a petition for an interim suspension order alleging that Reyes had engaged in a pattern of prescribing excessive amounts of potentially lethal controlled substances - typically, Vicodin - without medical indication and without taking proper histories or performing physical examinations.
One of the board's experts characterized Reyes' treatment of all nine patients as "extremely unprofessional conduct" and his treatment of chronic pain patients as "very troubling." At least four of the patients for whom Reyes prescribed large quantities of controlled substances were clearly addicts engaged in drug-seeking behavior. One of these patients stole blank prescription forms from Reyes and attempted to fill forged prescriptions at least six times and another used a pseudonym and a fake social security number to obtain drugs. Nonetheless, Reyes continued prescribing opiate medications for both of them.
Pending adjudication of this matter, the suspension order immediately prohibits Reyes from practicing medicine, possessing, prescribing, dispensing, furnishing, administering or otherwise distributing any controlled substance or any dangerous drugs. Judge Lew also ordered Reyes to surrender to the Medical Board his physician's and surgeon's wall and wallet certificates, all triplicates and regular prescription blanks, Drug Enforcement Administration drug order forms, and all Drug Enforcement Administration permits.
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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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