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News Release — August 4, 2011
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
August 4, 2011
Former Los Angeles area physician
surrenders his medical license
SACRAMENTO — The Medical Board has accepted the voluntary surrender of Roberto Bonilla’s license to practice medicine in California, effective July 27, 2011. "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 Board.
In summary, the Medical Board was notified in June 2008 that a patient had died during a surgery in Bonilla’s medical office (a converted single family home located in a residential neighborhood). The Board began an investigation and it was found, among other things, that Bonilla had administered an overdose of an anesthetic agent, causing the patient to stop breathing. Bonilla did not properly address the patient’s respiratory arrest, and the patient died. The case was presented to the Office of the Attorney General and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for review.
In January 2009, after completion of the Medical Board’s investigation, the Board filed an Ex Parte Interim Order of Suspension, and an Administrative Law Judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings granted the suspension, effective immediately. In the Order, Bonilla was restricted from performing or assisting in any surgery outside of a licensed hospital or surgical center until he passed a clinical assessment and clinical education program. A news release was issued on the Interim Suspension Order on March 2, 2011.
The Medical Board filed an Accusation against Bonilla on February 10, 2009, alleging he violated several laws resulting in the loss of human life, and requesting the revocation of his medical license.
A criminal hearing was held in February 2011 in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles and, on February 25, 2011, a jury found Bonilla guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter. Bonilla was remanded to custody and the judge suspended his license indefinitely.
After Bonilla’s felony conviction, the Medical Board continued its case to revoke Bonilla’s medical license. However, Bonilla agreed to surrender his medical license to the Board, and this Stipulation and Order was adopted by the Medical Board, effective July 27, 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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