Los Angeles Psychiatrist Jack Wu Restricted from Prescribing Opioids

September 13, 2018

On September 5, 2018 the Medical Board of California revoked Los Angeles psychiatrist Wu’s license but stayed the revocation and placed him on probation for five years.  

According to the Board’s document, Dr. Wu, who is the former director of the Adult Eating Disorders Program at UCLA, engaged in gross negligence by prescribing excessive amounts of controlled substances to a patient; violated drug statutes; prescribed dangerous drugs without appropriate prior examination and medical indication; failed to maintain accurate and adequate medical records; unprofessional conduct; and failure to report in a timely manner the settlement of a lawsuit against him.

            Specifically, Dr. Wu became involved in the medical care of a friend (“J.M.”) who was suffering from a cardiac-pain condition. To this person, he prescribed controlled substances and psychoactive drugs without consulting with the patient’s surgeon or primary care physician or conducting a CURES review. He did not make notes of any examinations nor record any pain scale, nor did he instruct the patient to inform her other doctors that Dr. Wu had prescribed controlled substances to her.

            The document further states that Dr. Wu’s wife filed for divorce after he told her that he was in love with J.M.; that he was arrested on August 11, 2014 on a charge of domestic battery; and that his wife sought a restraining order to have him removed from the family home.

            J.M. ultimately filed a civil lawsuit against Dr. Wu for negligence, sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Wu and J.M. settled the case (No. BC580094, Los Angeles Superior Court) for a figure in excess of $30,000 on April 28, 2018. The terms of Wu's probation include a restriction from prescribing opioids and from issuing a recommendation or approval to a patient for the use or cultivation of medical marijuana. He must refer all such patients to another physician for evaluation and must inform the patien and/or patient's caregiver that he is thus prohibited.

Source: Decision and Order in the Matter of the Accusation Against Jack Jyh-Perng Wu, M.D., Physician's and Surgeon's License No. A93228, Case No. 800-2015-014602, August 6, 2018.