State disciplines health care providers

For immediate release: December 5, 2016   (16-136)

Contact:  Sharon Moysiuk, Strategic Communications Office  360-549-6471
Public inquiries: Health Systems Customer Service  360-236-4700

State disciplines health care providers

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against health care providers in our state.

The department’s Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, counselors).

Information about health care providers is on the agency website. Click on “Look up a health care provider license” in the “How Do I?” section of the Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov). The site includes information about a health care provider’s license status, the expiration and renewal date of their credential, disciplinary actions and copies of legal documents issued after July 1998. This information is also available by calling 360-236-4700. Consumers who think a health care provider acted unprofessionally are encouraged to call and report their complaint.

Benton County

In October 2016 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Marlena D. Morningstar (RN00089630) with unprofessional conduct. Morningstar allegedly admitted diverting narcotics from the hospital where she worked.

Clark County

In October 2016 the Dental Commission charged dentist David A. Keller (DE00011209) with unprofessional conduct. Keller allegedly didn’t meet the standard of care in mouth reconstruction services. Charges say he advertised himself as being a board-certified general dentist, which the American Dental Association doesn’t recognize. This advertising is misleading to the public.

In May 2016 the secretary of health denied a massage practitioner license to Micah J. Romano (MA60634223). In 2009 Romano was convicted of first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm, and second-degree theft.

Cowlitz County

In September 2016 the Nursing Assistant Program entered an agreement with certified nursing assistant Jessica Renee Posadas Sanchez (NC60086538) that reactivates her expired license and places her on probation for at least two years. Her license expired in 2011. Sanchez was convicted in 2011 of two counts of second-degree theft. In 2012 and again in 2014 she was convicted of third-degree theft.

King County

In October 2016 the Massage Program charged massage practitioner Johnnie J. Lopez, also known as Jack Lopez (MA00022130), with unprofessional conduct. In 2016 Lopez was charged with indecent liberties. Charges say he inappropriately touched two clients.

In October 2016 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Jeanne Ellen Reisner (RN00118395) with unprofessional conduct. Charges say Reisner didn’t notify a patient’s physician of the patient’s deteriorating condition. The patient subsequently died.

In September 2016 the secretary of health denied a mental health counselor credential to Jami Annette Visaya (LH60511285), whose marriage and family therapist associate credential, and agency-affiliated counselor credentials were suspended in 2016.

In October 2016 the Massage Program reinstated the massage practitioner credential of Bella Fleur (MA00014847) and fined her $250. Fleur’s license was suspended in 2016 because she didn’t provide proof of completing required continuing education.

In October 2016 the Naturopathy Board modified an agreement with naturopathic physician Kathleen M. Naughton (NT00000384) under which she surrendered her credential. Naughton was placed on probation in 2015 in connection with issues involving medical marijuana authorizations.

In October 2016 the Psychology Board withdrew a statement of charges against psychologist Sheila Adams Hart (PY60001723).

In October 2016 the Medical Commission withdrew a statement of charges against physician Robert G. Thilo (MD00021350). Thilo must reimburse costs, attend continuing education, submit to practice reviews, and appear before the commission.

In October 2016 the Unlicensed Practice Program entered an agreement with Yanbing Zhuang that requires Zhuang to cease and desist from practicing massage without a license, and pay a $1,000 fine. Zhuang operated a reflexology business despite having no reflexology license and a rescinded massage license.

Lewis County

In October 2016 the Medical Commission entered an agreement with physician Charles L. McGill (MD00038212) that fines him $3,000, requires him to produce written pain management protocols, and subjects him to practice reviews. McGill caused a patient’s death by mismanaging the patient’s chronic pain with large dosages and quantities of controlled substances. McGill didn’t respond appropriately to signs indicating opioid therapy was producing negative effects. He also didn’t appropriately consult with or refer the patient to pain management specialists, or for chemical dependency treatment when the patient’s issues went beyond his ability to manage. McGill didn’t review, renew or update a pain contract for the patient even after signs of abuse or diversion developed.

Pierce County

In October 2016 the Nursing Assistant and Health Care Assistant programs reinstated the certified nursing assistant and health care assistant credentials of Newhonli Ben (NC10068527, HC00152738), who must complete continuing education in law and ethics. Ben’s licenses were suspended in 2011 after she took co-workers’ credit cards and used them for herself.

In October 2016 the Nursing Assistant Program charged registered nursing assistant Viliami Aho (NA60180080) with unprofessional conduct. In 2015 Aho was convicted of second-degree theft, and Medicaid false statement. Charges say the convictions stem from incidents that occurred while Aho was residential care manager at an adult family home.

In August 2016 the secretary of health conditionally granted a chemical dependency professional trainee credential to Elizabeth Ann Clark (CO60635560), placed her on probation, and ordered her to undergo an evaluation for a substance abuse monitoring program. Between1999 and 2011, Clark was convicted of two felonies, 17 gross misdemeanors and one misdemeanor.

In October 2016 the Dental Commission charged dentist Eugene Choy (DE00004607) with unprofessional conduct. Choy allegedly provided two patients with inadequate dentures and engaged in improper billing.

In October 2016 the Nursing Assistant Program entered an agreement with registered nursing assistant Shantel N. Farrar (NA60019053) that placed her on probation, and ordered her to undergo an evaluation for a substance abuse monitoring program. Farrar was intoxicated when she reported for duty at a client’s home.

In October 2016 the Unlicensed Practice Program entered an agreement with Wei Lian Lin that requires Lin to cease and desist from practicing massage without a license. Lin must pay a $250 fine. Lin, who has no massage practitioner license, owns a business that advertised massage.

Snohomish County

In October 2016 the Medical Commission charged physician Donald S. Dillinger (MD00017867) with unprofessional conduct. Dillinger allegedly violated the standard of care in chronic pain management for six patients. Charges say he focused on prescribing controlled substances without appropriate attention to the underlying pain cause. Dillinger allegedly didn’t exert sufficient monitoring and control to prevent a risk of patient harm. Charges say the evidence shows a pattern of incompetence and negligence which created an unreasonable risk of harm to six patients.