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Bulletin

Disciplinary actions taken in 2018

This report summarizes the disciplinary actions taken by the ACS Board of Regents in 2018.

ACS

February 1, 2019

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’s 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; and (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.

The Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) took the following disciplinary actions at its February 2, 2018, meeting in Chicago, IL:

  • Scott M. Blyer, MD, an oral maxillofacial surgeon from New York, was expelled from the College. This action was taken following a determination that his behavior, related to unprofessional conduct displayed on social media, was in violation of the ACS Bylaws.
  • A general surgeon from California was admonished. This action was taken following a finding that this surgeon’s expert witness testimony was in violation of the ACS Bylaws.

The Board of Regents of the ACS took the following disciplinary actions at its June 8, 2018, meeting in Chicago:

  • James H. Oury, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon from South Dakota, was expelled from the College. This action was taken following disciplinary action by the Montana, South Dakota, Idaho, Illinois, and California medical boards for behavior constituting unprofessional conduct.

The Board of Regents of the ACS took the following disciplinary actions at its October 19, 2018, meeting in Boston, MA:

  • Harald L. Aanning, MD, a general surgeon from South Dakota, was suspended from the College with conditions for reinstatement. The Board of Regents took this action following disciplinary action taken against his license to practice medicine by the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners for behavior related to expert witness testimony he had provided in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
  • Jeffrey D. Cone, MD, a neurosurgeon from Texas, was suspended from the College with terms and conditions for reinstatement. This action was taken following the revocation of his license to practice medicine in the state of Texas.
  • A general surgeon from Florida was censured following a finding that the surgeon’s expert witness testimony in a medical malpractice lawsuit was in violation of the ACS Bylaws.
  • Susan Mey Lee Lim, MD, a general surgeon from Singapore, was suspended from the College with conditions for reinstatement. This action was taken following disciplinary action by the Singapore Medical Council for unprofessional conduct.
  • A general surgeon from Nebraska was admonished following a finding that this surgeon’s expert witness testimony in a medical malpractice lawsuit was in violation of the ACS Bylaws.
  • Elijah Mobley, MD, a general surgeon from California, was suspended from the College with conditions for reinstatement. This action was taken following disciplinary action by the California Medical Board for negligence in the practice of medicine.
  • Saad A. Saad, MD, a pediatric surgeon from New Jersey, was suspended from the College. This action was taken following disciplinary action by the state of New Jersey following his arrest and indictment on charges of criminal behavior.
  • John P. Thomas, MD, a general surgeon from Texas, had his Fellowship suspended with terms and conditions for reinstatement of his full Fellowship privileges. This action was taken following disciplinary action by the Texas Medical Board for failure to meet the accepted standard of care in his treatment of two patients.