State panel censures LV doctor

Thursday, Jan. 8, 1998 | 10:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Medical Examiners has issued a public reprimand to Las Vegas physician Dr. MacArthur M. Robertson, who surrendered his license in California after being charged with negligent and incompetent treatment of patients.

At meeting last month in Las Vegas, the board said Robertson, who specializes in pain management, will not be allowed to practice in Nevada until he passes a competency examination in his field. It also ordered the anesthesiologist to pay $1,440 in disciplinary costs.

Richard LeGarza, an attorney for the board, said he is organizing a panel of physicians to give Robertson his examination.

In California, the state Medical Board charged Robertson with gross negligence, incompetence and submitting false claims for payments for treatment or tests that were never rendered.

In two cases, his patients died after receiving Robertson's pain treatment. The accusations said Robertson repeatedly billed the state for tests and studies that were never performed. And in the case of one patient, Robertson allegedly altered records which altered the patient's pain ratings at San Gordonio Hospital.

Rather than go to a hearing, Robertson surrendered his California license.

In other action:

* The board issued a public reprimand to Dr. Bernard P. McQuillan, Winnemucca, who was accused of allowing and helping Rosa Bacon Loyola to practice medicine in Nevada. Loyola took the test for admission to practice medicine in Nevada, but Quillan permitted her to practice even though she had not been officially licensed.

* The board revoked the license of Dr. Ranulfo Y. Yim of Daily City, Calif. His license had been on the inactive status. The board said Yim failed to notify Nevada authorities that his California license was limited. And Yim was accused of fraud or misrepresentation in his medicine practice.

* The board also revoked the license of Dr. Donald Schieve of Bullhead City, Ariz. Schieve was found guilty of failing to pay $7,500 to the board in a prior disciplinary case. His license has been on inactive status.