FRESNO, CA: Dr. Flores had a history of arrests for domestic violence, possession of narcotics, and being under the influence — including DUIs.
The Medical Board began an investigation into Dr. Flores' suspicious prescriptions of controlled narcotics to eight patients, without proper documentation or proof of examination. These drugs included Oxycodone, Norco, Soma: all drugs that were "highly valued on the street." In one case, Dr. Flores claimed that he continued to see a patient, and prescribed to him, on multiple dates after the patient had died. In all, Dr. Flores negligently prescribed thousands of highly controlled narcotics over the course of several years.
In 2013, during a Medical Board investigation into his gross negligence with patient care, Dr. Flores admitted to abusing alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines for many years. A psychiatrist found that Dr. Flores' drug and alcohol abuses was "disabling, especially for a physician" and said that Dr. Flores was "impulsive, and does not use good judgment."
The psychiatrist continued: "Despite the deleterious effects of substance abuse on his marriage, relationships, career, finances, reputation and health he has not been able to stop. His medical practice of pain management with the traffic of narcotics and cash paying patients who use narcotics puts cocaine and amphetamines within his reach. He is not honest about his current level of use."
The psychiatrist recommended that the Medical Board prevent Dr. Flores from practicing medicine, but instead the Medical Board allowed him to practice subject to only a few restrictions.
Less than three weeks after the Medical Board's decision, Dr. Flores was again arrested for possession of cocaine, being under the influence, and assaulting his girlfriend. However, it took two more months before the Medical Board suspended Dr. Flores' medical license.
In 2014, Dr. Flores finally surrendered his medical license.
Sources: http://www2.mbc.ca.gov/BreezePDL/default.aspx?licenseType=A&licenseNumber=69861
Proposition 46, the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act, will enact the first law in the nation to require random drug and alcohol tests of physicians in hospitals, modeled after the Federal Aviation Administration testing program that has successfully reduced substance abuse by pilots. Doctors found to be impaired on the job will have their license suspended. If Prop 46 had been in effect, Dr. Flores' drug and alcohol abuse may have been detected, possibly preventing threats to patients.
Hall of Shame: Insurance Companies Backing No on 46
NorCal Mutual Insurance Company $11,000,000.00
The Doctors Company $10,500,000.00
Cooperative of American Physicians $10,161,489.04
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan $5,000,000.00
Medical Insurance Exchange of California $5,000,000.00
The Dentists Insurance Company $1,620,000.00
The Mutual Risk Retention Group $1,000,000.00
All Insurers: $44,613,583.22
Total: $59,169,984.79
Insurance companies have spent nearly $45 million dollars to oppose Prop 46 in order to shield dangerous doctors like Dr. Flores from punishment, at the expense of patient safety, in order to protect their already substantial profits. In total, the opposition to Prop 46 has over $59 million dollars in their warchest, outspending consumer and patient safety advocates more than 8:1.
Learn more about Proposition 46 and the campaign for patient safety at: www.yeson46.org
-30-
Paid for by Yes on Prop. 46, Your Neighbors for Patient Safety, a Coalition of Consumer Attorneys and Patient Safety Advocates – major funding by Consumer Attorneys of California Issues and Initiative Defense Political Action Committees and Kabateck, Brown, Kellner, LLP.
