Have you ‘checked up’ on your doctor?

I just moved to New Orleans a month ago from California, but I’m no stranger to the Crescent City as it is my hometown.  I am, however, starting over with doctors, tailors, hair stylists, etc… so I’m conducting consumer research now from which you too can benefit.  Please let me know if you have a topic of concern that you would like for me to examine, and I will do my best to add it in my work schedule.  In addition to being around my family and friends I am here to help all of you, my hometown friends.

How about starting with healthcare, a hot topic these days.  Not to be a pessimist, but if you’re happy with your current doctors you might not know the whole truth. Would you care if you found out any of them had been disciplined by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners? Many health consumers don’t know the full medical history of their doctors.  I have to admit, I’ve never looked into it myself … I relied solely on referrals.  But as you may have seen in our story, a referral isn’t enough. The first step to give your doctor a proper ‘checkup’ is to check with the board.  Here’s what you do:

Log onto www.lsbme.org and click on “Verifications” on the left side of the home page.  The easiest way to conduct a background check online is to click “here” under “online verification.”  Here you can type in your doctor’s first and last name, and the state.  Happy check-ups to you!  In the meantime, we uncovered some medical backgrounds in the NOLA area that you might find of interest.   (information from Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, follow instructions above for most recent status and full background descriptions online)

Metairie

John Russell Davis, M.D.  (Medicine and Surgery) – Voluntary Surrender- Not Licensed- Convicted August 2007 of felony charge pertaining to the sexual exploitation of children

Luling

David Paul Sampognaro, M.D. – (Medicine and Surgery) – Suspended- Can not practice. January 2004- Indicted by a state grand jury for 21 counts of possession of child pornography. December 2006 – Pleaded ‘no contest’ to one count of attempted possession of child pornography. Sentenced to five years imprisonment, which was suspended, and was placed on probation for a period of five years, subject to a number of conditions. These included registration as a sex offender, and attending approved sex offender counseling.

Kenner

Dana Ray Fouchi, M.D. – (Medicine and Surgery) – Suspended, can not practice. Accused of examining and treating female patients without a chaperone, engaged in inappropriate behavior with two female employees whowere also patients, inappropriate behavior with female nurse at an area hospital, associated himself with an unlicensed practitioner, provided false information to the Board on the renewal application for his 2007 license, and failed to self-report violations of the chaperone requirement on his license.  At the time of discharge, Dr. Fouchi was not deemed capable of returning to practice. 

Marksville

Wallace Reynolds, MD  – (Medicine) – Reinstated and unrestricted. 

Raceland

Timothy Y. Maines, M.D.  – (Medicine and Surgery) – Active but on probation.  License was previously suspended due to psychiatric conditions, abuse and/or dependence on controlled substances, and prescribing medicine without proper registration.  Currently practicing with on-going treatment, mentoring, therapy, and neurocognitive testing and clinical skills assessment.  Dr. Maines has complied with ongoing treatment and attempts to undergo retraining in a medical residency training program.

Metairie

Fernando J. Martinez, Jr. M.D.– (Medicine and Surgery) – Active and Unrestricted, previously suspended for overprescribing pain medicine. 

New Orleans
Herbert L. Muncie, Jr. M.D. – (Medicine and Surgery) – Active but on probation, previously accused of having inappropriate relations with a female patient, prescribing that same patient excessive amounts of controlled substances, and providing her with false medical excuses.

Leslie E. Lawrence, M.D. – (Medicine and Surgery) – Reinstated, active and unrestricted.  Has had prior board action.

Anthony S. Jase, M.D.  – Active but on probation.  Previously accused of over-prescribing controlled substances.

Leo Joseph Vial, CRT – (Licensed Respiratory Therapist) – License suspended pending administrative action.  Physician may suffer from a condition, mainly substance abuse, that may interfere with his ability to practice respiratory care with reasonable skill and safety to patients. 

Mandeville

Heber E. Dunaway, Jr. M.D. – (Dispensation Registration) – Suspended and can not practice.  (Medicine and Surgery) – Reinstated, Active and Unrestricted, prior board action. Reason for board action concerned certain practices that were unrelated to his practice of obstetrics and gynecology.

Mary Christine Webster, M.D. – Active, On Probation.  Previously accused of overprescribing controlled substances without legitimate medical cause.

Covington

Kami Kay Dehler, MDW – (Midwife) – Revoked, can not practice.  Accused of practicing in a manner not in compliance with Midwife Practice Act.  Treated a client without proper physician supervision, accepted a client that was not eligible for home delivery based upon maternal age, did not arrange for emergency backup, did not maintain appropriate treatment records, and when the patient’s conditions deteriorated, Dehler tried to dissuade the patient from obtaining emergency care.  Dehler then did not inform the Board of the infant death within 48 hours.

Lacombe

Charles David Mayeux, RRT- Suspended, can not practice.  Investigation reveals Mayeux was terminated from employment at a New Orleans area hospital in 2005 for engaging in inappropriate conduct with a cognitively impaired, hospitalized, former patient with whom he was familiar. Investigation also reveals he did not disclose the underlying reasons or fact of his termination to a subsequent employer, nor did he reveal the investigation, suspension of his privileges or termination to the Board on his 2006 renewal application for his license.