Medical board should revoke medical license of 'Octomom’s' fertility doctor, prosecutor says
At a hearing Thursday, a California deputy attorney general urged the Medical Board of California to revoke the medical license of the Beverly Hills fertility doctor who assisted Nadya Suleman in conceiving octuplets.
"Revocation is proper. It's the only way to ensure public protection," Deputy Atty. Gen. Judith T. Alvarado said.
Dr. Michael Kamrava's medical license could be revoked if it is determined that he was grossly negligent in his treatment of Suleman and two other female patients: a 48-year-old who suffered complications after she became pregnant with quadruplets and a 42-year-old diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer after receiving fertility treatments.
An administrative law judge who heard the case against Kamrava recommended in January that Kamrava keep his license and be put on five years' probation. But the medical board rejected that recommendation in February and is considering a harsher disciplinary action, setting in motion Thursday's public hearing at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport.
DOCUMENTS: Read the recommendations in Kamrava's case
Alvarado criticized the judge's probation recommendation for Kamrava, citing his argument that Kamrava was unlikely to repeat bad behavior because of public scrutiny.
She contended that public scrutiny would not work for Kamrava. Despite extensive critical news coverage after the birth of the octuplets, Kamrava did not follow-up on an abnormal biopsy on a 42-year-old patient who received fertility treatment, delaying her diagnosis of ovarian cancer for months.
"Public scrutiny doesn't work with him," Alvarado said.
Kamrava's lawyer, Henry Fenton, said probation is reasonable. He recalled the judge's finding that Kamrava was sorry that the invitro fertilization process resulted in octuplets.
"Nobody died here. This is a good doctor. I argue he really learned his lesson," Fenton said. He also said Kamrava changed his entire staff.
Fenton said the failure to follow-up on the abnormal biopsy of the 42-year-old patient was an isolated incident. "He said, 'Look … it was the only time in my career I had forgotten.' It was just from the publicity of [Nadya Suleman] … that he forgot to tell her," Fenton said.
Fenton urged the medical board not to take harsher action against Kamrava merely because the case is highly publicized. "We have an excellent physician who is very concerned, who admits his mistake," Fenton said. He said the case involved an "unusual patient who didn't do what she was asked to do in terms of fetal reduction," or terminate some of the fetuses.
Kamrava did not testify during Thursday's hearing.
The six-member panel of the medical board deliberated in closed session. It could take about 30 to 60 days before the decision is made public. Kamrava can appeal the decision through the state court system.
RELATED:
'Octomom' fertility doctor might lose license
'Octomom's' fertility doctor should get five years probation, judge says
Fertility doc should have said 'no' to Nadya Suleman, expert says
-- Rong-Gong Lin II in Westchester
Top photo: Nadya Suleman shows off a handful of her 14 children. Credit: Fox
Bottom photo: Dr. Michael Kamrava. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
"Nobody died here.”
Perhaps not, but he enabled an incompetent, unemployed single mother to add 8 more children to her additional brood of six. He and the narcissistic birthing unit he impregnated are responsible for 14 children, who from all accounts are living a life of chaos and neglect.
Posted by: Poucette | May 05, 2011 at 11:14 AM
"NOBODY DIED HERE"
great litmus test Attorney Fenton, maybe we should use that analysis in other areas as well....?
Posted by: Lostangeles09 | May 05, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Indirectly he is the Father of all the children that she gave birth to while under his care, therefore he should be responsible for their welfare until they reach 18. That's what other irresponsible fathers have to do.
Posted by: Ron pickett | May 05, 2011 at 12:13 PM
If Kamrava's actions don't constitute gross negligence, what on Earth does?! This guy's irresponsibility is staggering.
Posted by: Zonker | May 05, 2011 at 01:05 PM
Does a woman have a right to make her own reproductive decisions even if the rest of us think they are incredibly stupid? Or does that just go for abortions?
Punishing a doctor for helping a woman make a reproductive decision we do not approve us denies the woman that right.
Posted by: TomHynes | May 05, 2011 at 02:27 PM