Pubdate: Mon, 30 May 2016
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: Jenna Chandler, Staff Writer

DOCTOR CALLED NEGLIGENT OVER MEDICAL POT GIVES UP LICENSE

A Costa Mesa-based eye surgeon accused of negligence for signing
medical marijuana recommendations after consulting with patients over
video chat has relinquished his medical license.

Dr. Marc Richard Rose, who ran OC Medical Center in Anaheim,
surrendered his license May 20 "in the interest of a prompt and speedy
settlement."

In 2014, the California Medical Board filed a petition to revoke
Rose's license two years after two of its investigators had posed as
patients and visited his Anaheim clinic, seeking recommendations for
medical marijuana to relieve "severe headaches."

They each obtained recommendations valid for one year after chatting
with the physician via video for less than three minutes each.

The board said Rose did not perform physical exams, did not discuss
"the risks nor the benefits of medical marijuana" and did not ask them
about their headache histories or the "degree of their suffering or
what their suffering prevented them from doing."

The board argued the ophthalmologist should have considered
alternative treatments before recommending marijuana.

"Dr. Rose made no effort to ensure adequate treatment of these two
patients. He simply gave them the paper they wanted and sent them on
their way," the board said.

Rose's attorney could not be reached for comment.

One of his prior attorneys, Bruce Margolin of West Hollywood, has told
the Register that medical marijuana dispensing requirements for
doctors are unclear and that too many unnecessary steps could prevent
patients from access to which they are legally entitled.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D