Administrative Law Topics: Mental / Physical Evaluations

A California physician was on probation with a requirement to undergo and pass the Physician Assessment and Clinical Education (P.A.C.E.) program at the University of California, San Diego. The P.A.C.E. evaluation was conducted in two parts. It included an oral clinical evaluation and a hands-on practice simulation, in addition to physical and psychological testing. The physician was subsequently informed of failure of the clinical portion of the examination.  An order to cease practice followed.  The Medical Board then filed an Accusation and Petition to Revoke Probation.

The Medical Board of California filed an Accusation against our client, a physician, alleging mental impairment (Business and Professions Code section 822.)  This Accusation arose from a chain of events that led personnel issues to be blown out of proportion:  First, personality conflicts led to our client's termination from employment.  Second, mandatory reporting to the Medical Board (Business and Professions Code section 805) led to an investigation.  Third, the investigator requested a psychiatric evaluation.  Fourth, a Board appointed psychiatrist expressed the opinion that our client