The Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) took the following disciplinary actions at its October 5, 2013, meeting:
- Peter A. Bernardo, MD, FACS, a general surgeon from Salem, OR, had his Fellowship placed on probation with conditions for reinstatement. This action was taken following action by the Oregon Medical Board placing limitations on his license regarding laparoscopic colectomy procedures.
- Michael A. Maddaus, MD, FACS, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Minneapolis, MN, had his Fellowship placed on probation with conditions for reinstatement. That action was taken following action by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice restricting his license and ordering him to participate in the Health Professionals Services Program.
- Robert S. Mathews, MD, FACS, an orthopaedic surgeon from Lancaster, PA, had his Fellowship placed on probation with conditions for reinstatement. This action was taken following action by the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine placing his license on probation after finding that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with an employee while concurrently treating her and that he failed to document an initial medical history and physical examination, reevaluations, or appropriate counseling regarding the conditions diagnosed and medications prescribed.
- Larry D. Tice, MD, FACS, a neurosurgeon from Grand Junction, CO, had his Fellowship placed on probation with conditions for reinstatement. This action was taken following action by the Colorado Medical Board placing his license on probation for five years based on a determination of unprofessional conduct regarding five patient cases.
The Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) took the following disciplinary actions at its June 7, 2013 meeting:
- Deborah L. Aaron, MD, FACS, a general surgeon from Santa Fe,
NM, had her Fellowship placed on probation with conditions for reinstatement. This action was taken following action by the New Mexico Medical Board placing her license on probation with terms and conditions for failure to comply with an earlier Stipulation with the State. - A general surgeon was censured following charges that this Fellow violated the ACS Bylaws when providing expert witness testimony in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Definition of terms
Following are the disciplinary actions that may be imposed for violations of the principles of the College.
- Admonition: A written notification, warning, or serious rebuke.
- Censure: A written judgment, condemning the Fellow or Member’s actions as wrong. This is a firm reprimand.
- Probation: A punitive action for a stated period of time, during which the Member: (a) loses the rights to hold office and to participate as a leader in College programs; (b) retains other privileges and obligations of membership; (c) will be reconsidered by the Central Judiciary Committee periodically and at the end of the stated term.
- Suspension: A severe punitive action for a period of time, during which the Fellow or Member, according to the membership status: (a) loses the rights to attend and vote at College meetings, to hold office, and to participate as a leader, speaker, or panelist in College programs; (b) is subject to the removal of the Member’s name from the public listing and mailing list of the College; (c) surrenders his or her Fellowship certificate to the College, and no longer explicitly or implicitly claims to be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; (d) pays the visitor’s registration fee when attending College programs; (e) is not subject to the payment of annual dues. When the suspension is lifted, the Fellow or Member is returned to full privileges and obligations of Fellowship.
- Expulsion: The certificate of Fellowship and all other indicia of Fellowship or membership previously issued by the College must be forthwith returned to the College. The surgeon thereafter shall not explicitly or implicitly claim to be a Fellow or Member of the American College of Surgeons and may not participate as a leader, speaker, or panelist in College programs.