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News Release — January 16, 2007
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
January 16, 2007
Medical Board of California Accusation Leads to Surrender of Chino Hills Physician's License
SACRAMENTO—Facing charges of incompetence filed by the Medical Board of California, Chino Hills physician Merlin Lee Neff, Jr., M.D., surrendered his license to practice medicine. The stipulated surrender of his medical license was adopted on January 5, 2007 and became effective on January 12, 2007. 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 December 3, 2003, the board filed an Accusation against Neff alleging violations of Business and Professions Code sections 2234(b)(c)(d) and 2266 (gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, incompetence, unprofessional conduct and inadequate medical records). The board subsequently adopted a Stipulated Settlement and Disciplinary Order on March 1, 2005 that placed Neff's license on five years' probation with terms and conditions. Two of the conditions were that he enroll and successfully complete a clinical training or educational program equivalent to the Physician Assessment and Clinical Education Program (PACE), and that a practice monitor be assigned to him.
Neff completed his participation in PACE on March 10, 2006. After evaluating his performance, PACE staff concluded that Neff did not possess sufficient knowledge to practice medicine safely and, as a result denied him a certificate of completion. On July 6, 2006, the board filed a new charge against Neff, alleging he was incompetent to practice medicine safely as demonstrated by his conduct during the PACE Assessment and Clinical Education program and by his failure to successfully complete the PACE program.
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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.mbc.ca.gov or for questions call the Consumer Information Line at (916) 263-2382, or with complaints call (800) 633-2322.
For up-to-date information on board activities, please join our "Subscribers' List" at www.mbc.ca.gov/subscribers.htm.
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