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News Release — July 5, 2005
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
July 5, 2005
Medical Board of California Accusation Leads
To Surrender of Beverly Hills Physician's License
SACRAMENTO—Facing an Accusation of unprofessional conduct by the Medical Board of California, Beverly Hills physician Michael J. Scolaro, M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his license was ordered on June 23, 2005 and became effective on June 30, 2005.
The Medical Board accused Scolaro of violating multiple sections of the Business and Professions Code, including section 2234(b)(c)(d) (gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, and incompetence), section 725 (excessive prescribing), and section 2266 (failing to maintain adequate and accurate records) in that he demonstrated a lack of medical knowledge, judgment and skill in the care and treatment of three patients.
The Accusation alleged that Scolaro was negligent by infusing one patient with Cytogam to treat thrombocytopenia without medical indication and/or failing to document this indication and by ordering an excessive number of tests without indication and/or failing to document these indication(s). On a second patient, Scolaro is accused of ordering excessive IVIG infusions and failing to request a timely hematological consultation and/or failing to document such consultation. Scolaro also is accused of failing to perform monthly physical examinations on a third patient during the administration of IVIG treatment from May 17, 2000 to November 15, 2001.
In July 1994, the board placed Scolaro on three years' probation in response to allegations that he had experimented with 11 terminally ill AIDS patients by inoculating them with 0.5 to 2.0 ml. of blood containing a human immunodeficiency virus. As part of his probation, Scolaro was ordered "not to engage in research projects involving human subjects without first obtaining independent review board approval."
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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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