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News Release — June 13, 2006
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
June 13, 2006
Medical Board of California Obtains
Suspension of Riverside Physician's License
SACRAMENTO—In response to a Petition filed by Deputy Attorney General Sanford Feldman on behalf of the Medical Board of California, Administrative Law Judge Stephen E. Hjelt signed an order on June 12, 2006 which prohibits Riverside physician Merlin Lee Neff, M.D. from practicing medicine. The suspension order, which found Neff to have violated the terms and conditions of his probation, was immediately effective and prohibits him from practicing medicine while in effect. 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."
In a prior case, on March 31, 2005, the Division of Medical Quality placed Neff's medical license on probation for four years. The Petition for Interim Order of Suspension alleges that terms and conditions of probation included a requirement that Neff successfully complete a clinical training program. In July 2005, Neff began his clinical education program at the University of California at San Diego, School of Medicine -- Physician Assessment and Clinical Education Program (PACE). During PACE testing and evaluation, Neff's testing scores were uniformly extremely low and demonstrated a widespread level of incompetence in all of the elements required of a physician: knowledge, diagnostic ability, and clinical judgment. In addition, Neff demonstrated a less than adequate amount of knowledge regarding anesthesiology and acute medical care and also failed the oral examinations. Based on his performance, the PACE program denied Neff a certification of completion.
Neff has been ordered to appear at the Office of Administrative Hearings in San Diego on June 26, 2006, to show cause, if any, why the suspension order should not remain in full force pending the issuance of a final decision by the Division of Medical Quality.
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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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