May 27, 2009 10:04 pm US/Pacific
Call Kurtis: Accused Doctor's License Revoked
Dr. Brian West To Lose License
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Accused of drinking problems and the subject of more than 20 patient complaints to the medical board, a doctor that CBS13 first started investigating more than three years ago will lose his license.
The medical board found that plastic surgeon Doctor Brian West has a pattern of dishonesty, and for that, they say he should no longer be allowed to practice.
"I just feel, actually relieved," said former patient Judy McDonald. "I called my children and said, yeah, this man's going to be stopped."
Judy McDonald of Auburn initially went to Doctor Brian West to reconstruct her breast after a mastectomy and give her healthy breast a lift to match. The cancer survivor says West ended up reducing her healthy breast by two cup sizes.
Ten years later, she still feels the effects of the surgeries.
"I'm numb, I have a lot of scars, clothes fit me differently," Judy said.
In the decision just handed down, the medical board found Brian West showed gross negligence when he treated Judy. The board also found he lied to one of their investigators about a drunk driving crash when he was headed to the hospital to treat Becky Anderson.
"I miss her, I miss her very much," said Becky's sister Terri Pryde.
Becky died of cancer last year. Terri watched her go through years of agony after West left her disfigured. He paid Becky $250,000 in a settlement after she said he performed a surgery she never wanted.
We sat down with Becky a few months before her death.
"I don't want to die, but I'm okay with it," she said. "It didn't have to happen so soon. I believe Dr. West played a huge role in that, because it affected my treatment."
In that interview, Becky said she wanted his license revoked.
"Becky would be thrilled, she would be thrilled with this decision," Terri said.
The medical board says West's history of alcohol issues and these cases show a pattern of dishonesty, and determined his license should be revoked, stating, "Honesty goes to the heart of a physician's practice of medicine... Dishonesty is incompatible with the practice of medicine."
"You might do that with some professions, but as a doctor working on human bodies, it's just not right," Judy said.
Under this ruling, he won't be allowed to work on humans any more.
"He can't injure other patients," Terri said.
"Just glad it's over," Judy said.
Earlier this month, the state opened up a separate case against West for not showing up to mandated alcohol screenings. West has been practicing in Huntington Beach.
He will lose his license as of June 25, but has the right to appeal.
If he appeals, he could ask to be allowed to practice during the appeal process, but I'm told most of the time, that request is denied.
According to government code, West could ask the medical board to reinstate his license after a year, but will have to prove he has rehabilitated himself.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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