The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Wednesday, July 28, 2010 

T he Medical Board of California has placed a prominent Filipino doctor in San Diego, California, on probation for three years because of what it said was his "gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts" in the case of a 73-year-old male patient who had succumbed to rectal cancer. The board said Edwin M. Yorobe, the 64-year-old physician-surgeon who practices in the city's Tierrasanta district, will be monitored by the State of California and made to undergo educational course in addition to continuing medical education. His doctor's certificate was revoked but the revocation is stayed.

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SAN DIEGO-BASED DR. EDWIN M. YOROBE

California Medical Board Disciplines Prominent Filipino Doctor for Negligence, Incompetence

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Member, Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)

and Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)

T ORONTO - The Medical Board of California has slapped a prominent Filipino doctor in San Diego with disciplinary actions for what it said was his "gross negligence, incompetence and repeated negligent acts".

The board identified the offending physician as Edwin Mendez Yorobe, MD, who practices in the city's Tierrasanta neighborhood and mainly caters to the Filipino community.

The 64-year-old physician-surgeon and his wife, Barbara Yorobe, are quite well-known for their high-profile socials through their monthly tabloids, which they both edit, and elaborate fund-raising schemes for their humanitarian foundation.

Yorobe, a 1970 graduate of Manila's Far Eastern University, was accused before the board by Barbara Johnston in her official capacity as MBC executive director. The complaint, billed as Case No. 10-2007-181010, was filed on June 10, 2009, in Sacramento, California.

Among others, it alleged that Yorobe had been "grossly negligent in the care and treatment" of a 73-year-old man, identified only as T.G., who had sought treatment in March 2003 and died one-and-half-years later from rectal cancer.

"Respondent (Yorobe) departed extremely from the standard of care for treatment of a 73-year-old man with rectal bleeding by failing to properly and fully investigate the exact cause of T.G.'s rectal bleeding with timely and appropriate diagnostic studies," according to official documents made available to this reporter.

For this reason and several others detailed in the accusation, Yorobe was also accused of "incompetence" and "repeated negligent acts".

(To see the full details of the accusation, please click the link, click "public record documents", then click "decision":

http://licenselookup.mbc.ca.gov/licenselookup/lookup.php?LicenseType=A&LicenseNumber=29827 )

The board and Dr. Yorobe agreed to settle the case on the condition that Yorobe gives up his right to contest the charges.

Y orobe's admissions, the board explained, "are only for the purposes of this proceeding, or any other proceedings in which the Medical Board of California or other professional licensing agency is involved, and shall not be admissible in any other criminal or civil proceeding".

Under the terms of the "stipulated settlement and disciplinary order", Yorobe's physician's and surgeon's certificate is revoked.

"However, the revocation is stayed and respondent (Yorobe) is placed on probation for three years", the settlement said. It took effect on April 29, 2010.

One of the conditions of that settlement is that Yorobe attend a department-approved educational course of at least 40 hours per year, in addition to attending 65 hours of continuing medical education.

"The educational program or course shall be aimed at correcting any areas of deficient practice or knowledge," documents said.

During the entire years of probation, Yorobe's practice  will be monitored by one or more licensed physicians and surgeons. He is also prohibited from supervising physician assistants.

Yorobe was not immediately available for comment by either email or by phone. # # #

For news videos, please visit and click the links:

1. Beauties & Queens of Toronto: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel">&feature=channel 

2. Shirt as a Medium to Foster Pride in the Philippines: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel">&feature=channel 

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4. Toronto Mayoral Candidate: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel" target=_blank>&feature=channel

For post-G20 summit coverage:

1. Sideshow at Bubbles for Peace Protest: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel">&feature=channel

2. Bubbles for Peace Protest at Queen's Park in Toronto: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel">&feature=channel

For other stories and photos, please visit: http://travelsthemes.blogspot.com/  or http://currentsbreakingnews.blogspot.com/ and: http://gotchajournalist.blogspot.com/ .

For news videos about the G20 summit, click the following links:

1. The other side of protest at: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel" target=_blank>&feature=channel

2. Part I: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel" target=_blank>&feature=channel

3. Part II: &feature=channel href="/&feature=channel" target=_blank>&feature=channel

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