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News Release — September 4, 2012
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
September 4, 2012
Medical Board of California obtains Interim Suspension Order
temporarily suspending the medical license of Glendora physician
SACRAMENTO — The medical license of Rolando Lodevico Atiga, M.D. was fully suspended by an Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings at the request of the Medical Board. "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.
On July 12, 2012, Dr. Atiga was arrested by the Glendora Police Department and charged with providing prescriptions for scheduled narcotics and medications for a large cash fee, without any medical indication. In an undercover operation, an investigator gave Dr. Atiga an x-ray of her German Shepherd dog to substantiate her pain.
On August 8, 2012, an Ex Parte Petition for Interim Suspension Order was filed by the Medical Board seeking to suspend, pending a full hearing on the matter, the medical license of Dr. Atiga. The Board argued that permitting Dr. Atiga to continue practicing medicine would endanger the public health, safety, and welfare. Neither Dr. Atiga nor his attorney appeared for the hearing. An Interim Suspension Order was issued, effective August 13, 2012, pending a noticed hearing on August 31, 2012.
The full noticed hearing was held on August 31, 2012. Again, Dr. Atiga failed to appear. Accordingly, the Judge ruled to suspend Dr. Atiga’s medical license and ordered him to immediately cease practicing medicine “pending further hearing.” An Accusation will be issued by the Medical Board within 15 days, and there will be a hearing on this Accusation, which has not yet been scheduled.
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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