La Jolla lipo litigation

The executive director of the Medical Board of California has filed an accusation against Jerrell Lawrence Borup, M.D., who took a job as a "supervising physician" at a liposuction company although he was not interested in patient care or performing liposuction procedures. He was a trained anesthesiologist who had not practiced for ten years because of a medical condition and had only completed a weekend course in liposuction.

The liposuctions were performed by a physician assistant who had had no surgical training and had not attended an accredited medical school. Pacific Liposculpture, at 8899 University Center Lane (suite 250) in La Jolla, advertised for a medical director on Craigslist, according to the accusation. Borup was chosen among five candidates.

"As made clear during the course of discussions, [Borup] had no interest in being involved in patient care or performing any of the liposuction procedures. [He] had been retired and indicated he was physically limited in his ability to practice medicine based on a previous health condition," according to the complaint. He was selected because he would not be involved in medical procedures, says the complaint. His only duty was "periodic review of patient records."

Yet, according to the complaint, Pacific Liposculpture advertised that because of Borup's "advanced training and experience in liposuction technology," those electing the procedure would have eminently successful experiences. This was false, says the medical board.

The medical board then cited a number of cases of gross negligence in performing liposuction. Borup "aided and abetted" the physician assistant's "unlicensed practice of medicine." There were also charges of dishonesty and unprofessional conduct against Borup. The executive director of the board recommended that he lose his license.

In an unrelated case, the executive director charged Robert Smith, M.D., with providing a physician assistant who worked in the office with multiple prescriptions for controlled substances.