Legal News

SoCal ob-gyn ordered to cease practice pending disciplinary hearing

By Richard Binder

Administrative Law Judge James Ahler ordered a Southern California obstetrician-gynecologist to immediately stop performing abortions and delivering babies until a formal disciplinary hearing can be held about the death of one of his patients during an abortion.

The patient, Ying Chen, had a toxic reaction to a drug administered by Dr. Andrew Rutland, according to Deputy Attorney General Douglas Lee, and the doctor did not have the proper equipment or personnel in case of an emergency.

At the time of the death, Rutland was on five years' administrative probation stemming from another case in which he surrendered his license amid an investigation into the death of two infants shortly after delivery, according to state records. His license was later reinstated. Ahler stopped short of granting a request by attorneys for the Medical Board of California to immediately suspend the doctor's license, opting to temporarily limit his practice instead.

Full story at LATimes.com.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on January 08, 2010 (boomark / email).