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News Release — April 6, 2011
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
April 6, 2011
Medical Board of California revokes license
of former Pebble Beach physician
SACRAMENTO — The medical license of former Pebble Beach physician Frederick Ralph Miranda has been revoked by the Medical Board of California. "The mission of the Medical Board is public protection, and this action reflects the Board's ongoing commitment to that mission," said Linda Whitney, executive director of the Medical Board.
In 2008, Miranda was placed on five years' probation for unprofessional conduct and gross negligence in his care and treatment of a patient. An investigation by the Medical Board found Miranda's conduct in his care of a cosmetic surgery patient was an extreme departure from the standard of care. As one of the conditions of his probation, Miranda was ordered to enroll in a clinical training program within 60 days of the Order, and to not practice cosmetic surgery until his successful completion of the program.
On December 29, 2009, the Medical Board filed A Petition to Revoke Probation, because Miranda allegedly failed to comply with certain terms of his probation. An Accusation and Amended Petition to Revoke Probation was filed on September 2, 2010, additionally alleging Miranda was guilty of violating Business and Professions Code sections 2234(a) (Dishonesty) and 2264 (Unprofessional Conduct /Aiding and Abetting Unlicensed Practice), when it was found Miranda had authorized his office manager to refill prescriptions for his previous patients after the Medical Board obtained a Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (C.U.R.E.S.) Prescriber Prescription History Report, showing Miranda was the prescriber of 48 prescriptions between June 1, 2008, and January 20, 2009. Miranda denied prescribing or calling in prescriptions to the pharmacy after he closed his office in May 2008.
Miranda had signed two Quarterly Declarations, under penalty of perjury, that he had ceased practicing medicine when he closed his practice in May 2008. However, in an interview with Miranda's former office manager, she stated Miranda had kept and paid for his office telephone line to remain open, which she maintained at her home, and he had authorized the prescription refills.
The Medical Board requested Miranda's probation be revoked and impose the disciplinary order that was stayed, thereby revoking his medical license. An administrative law judge issued a Proposed Decision, which was adopted by the Medical Board as its Decision, to revoke the license of Miranda, effective April 6, 2011.
The public record documents in this case can be accessed on our Web site at www.mbc.ca.gov under the heading "Enforcement Public Documents."
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The mission of the Medical Board is to protect health care consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied health care professions and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act, and, to promote access to quality medical care through the Board's licensing and regulatory functions.
If you have a question or complaint about the health care you are receiving, the Board encourages you to visit its Web site at www.mbc.ca.gov or call the Consumer Information Line at (916) 263-2382 or (800) 633-2322.
For up-to-date information on Board activities, please join our "Subscribers' List" at www.mbc.ca.gov/subscribers.html.
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