Psychiatrist Gerald E. Lake surrenders license to medical board

June 22, 2009

Psychiatrist Gerald E. Lake surrendered his license to the Medical Board of California.  This follows an earlier disciplinary action in which the Board placed Lake on five years probation in February 2009. According to the Board's document, Dr. Lake was convicted in July 2000 of misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence of alcohol and sentenced to five years probation.  On July 23, 2008, he was again convicted of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol with a prior violation and was sentenced to five years probation and 96 hours in custody via the work release program.  The latter conviction arose out of a January 2008 arrest in which police pulled Lake over for weaving in traffic; they were unable to complete a field sobriety test due to Lake's seriously intoxicated condition.  They also found a bottle of video head cleaner on his person.  This cleaner is commonly used for “huffing” (inhaling gases or fumes for the purpose of obtaining a quick, short-lasting euphoric state).  Lake admitted he had been huffing that night.

(Agreement for Surrender of License, In the Matter of the Accusation Against Gerald Eugene Lake, M.D., Physician’s and Surgeon’s Certificate No. G-20748, Case No. 10-2008-189417, July 22, 2009.)