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News Release — December 30, 2005
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
December 30, 2005
Medical Board of California Accusation Leads
To Surrender of Point Reyes Physician's License
Facing an Accusation and Petition to Revoke Probation for unprofessional conduct by the Medical Board of California, Point Reyes physician Charles Looney, M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his license was ordered on December 22, 2005 and became effective on December 29, 2005. Medical Board Executive Director Dave Thornton stated, "The mission of the Medical Board is to protect healthcare consumers. We work diligently to achieve our mission by vigorously enforcing the Medical Practice Act."
On January 14, 2004, Looney was placed on three years' criminal probation by the Marin County Superior Court for multiple convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol. Among the terms of his criminal probation were that he participate in an outpatient alcohol treatment program and that he report to his probation officer every Monday for urinalysis. As a result of the criminal convictions, on April 4, 2005, in case no. D1-2004-159697, the Division of Medical Quality placed Looney on five years' probation with terms and conditions, including: abstaining completely from the use of products or beverages containing alcohol; enrolling and participating in the board's Diversion Program until the Diversion Program determined that further treatment and rehabilitation were no longer needed; and obeying all federal, state and local laws, all laws governing the practice of medicine in California, remaining in full compliance with any court-ordered criminal probation, payments, and other orders.
On May 31, 2005, Looney was terminated from the board's Diversion Program after testing positive for alcohol use in violation of his Medical Board probation and his court-ordered criminal probation. On September 30, 2005, the board filed a Petition to Revoke Probation after Looney failed to abstain from the use of alcohol, was terminated from the Board's Diversion Program, and failed to remain in full compliance with his court-ordered criminal probation.
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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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