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News Release — October 1, 2004
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
October 1, 2004
Medical Board of California Obtains
Suspension of Palm Desert Physician's License
SACRAMENTO—In response to a Petition filed by Deputy Attorney General Thomas S. Lazar on behalf of the Medical Board of California, Administrative Law Judge Steven V. Adler issued a full interim suspension order (ISO) on September 30, 2004 against the medical license of Jane Espejo Norton, M.D., of Palm Desert. The suspension order is based upon a finding that permitting Norton to continue to engage in the practice of medicine will endanger the public health, safety, and welfare. The order was immediately effective and bars her from practicing medicine while in effect.
The Petition alleges that on June 2, 2004, in the case entitled United States of America v. Jane Norton, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Norton was convicted, upon her plea of guilty, of two counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, sections 1003 and 1002, as a result of her submitting to the United States Small Business Administration a fraudulent loan application seeking disaster business loans and submitting a letter to the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency falsely claiming that a piece of medical equipment belonging to her medical practice had been destroyed as a result of Hurricane Floyd. The Petition further alleges that on September 28, 2004, Norton was sentenced to 30 days' home detention on each count to be served concurrently including wearing an electronic bracelet, two years' probation, a $5,000 fine, and alcohol aftercare treatment at the discretion of the probation officer.
The Petition further alleges that Norton committed multiple acts of gross negligence and unprofessional conduct in her care and treatment of a 56-year-old female patient with multiple medical problems, by: (1) performing multiple, prolonged, elective cosmetic surgical procedures on her, an unhealthy patient, in an outpatient setting with insufficient postoperative care and no preoperative medical clearance; (2) performing cosmetic liposuction and dermabrasion on the patient, who, at that time, had large, non-healing, open wounds from prior surgeries that Norton had previously performed on her; (3) leaving the patient, sick and deteriorating, in the care of a medical assistant after one of the surgeries, rather than leaving her in the care of a competent physician; and (4) performing one of the surgeries even though she knew that she would be out of town after the surgery without adequate physician coverage and then, after performing the surgery, actually leaving town without arranging for or obtaining adequate physician coverage for the patient.
A hearing is set for October 14, 2004 at the Office of Administrative Hearings in San Diego to determine if the ISO will remain in effect pending the completion of administrative disciplinary proceedings.
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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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