CA Medical Board Seeks to Revoke License of Psychiatrist Svetlana Anic; Arrested for Prescription Forgery

May 18, 2020

On December 18, 2019, the Medical Board of California issued and Accusation against psychiarist Svetlana Anic, of Coalinga, California. The Board’s document states the following:

On or about November 23, 2016, Anic called in a prescription to a pharmacy in Blue Jay, California (an unincorporated community located in San Bernardino County, CA). The prescription was for antibiotics and for Valium (diazepam), a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Anic called the prescription in for a fictitious patient named "Joanne Kenter." Anic was not, in fact, treating any person by that name, and intended to obtain the medications for her own use. The pharmacist who received the call noted that "Joanne Kenter" had a recent prior prescription for Valium, and that the new prescription appeared to be an early refill. Later that day, Anic appeared at the pharmacy to pick up the prescription. The pharmacist noted that Anic’s voice matched the voice of the doctor who had called in the prescription, and refused to fill the prescription. Anic became irate, and an altercation ensued.

The same day, at approximately 6:25 p.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched regarding the altercation at the pharmacy. The pharmacist reported that the individual involved was last seen walking away on State Highway 189. Anic was contacted by a Sheriffs deputy while walking southbound on State Highway 189, away from the pharmacy. Anic refused the deputy's commands to stop and come to him, and instead turned her back, told the deputy to "go away," and continued to walk. Anic refused to put down her phone when the deputy commanded her to do so. When the deputy asked if she knew why he was there, she replied, "I don't care." When the deputy attempted to restrain Anic, she pulled away. The deputy struggled to handcuff her, as she repeatedly pulled her wrists away from him and kicked him. The deputy took Anic to the ground, and ultimately placed handcuffs on her. Anic was placed in the backseat of a patrol car, where she proceeded to kick the rear passenger window. After being warned to stop, Respondent kicked the window a second time, and was placed in ankle restraints for approximately five minutes.

Anic demonstrated an inability to maintain her balance, both before and after being placed in the patrol car, and her upper body swayed in all directions. She had slurred speech, dilated pupils, and droopy eyelids. A blood sample which was taken from her at approximately 5:50 a.m. the following morning later tested positive for opiates and benzodiazepines.

Anic prescribed the following medications to herself, using the false names "Joanne Kenter," "Joanna Kenter," or "Joanne Kanter:" the benzodiazepines clonazepam, triazolam, and lorazepam; the sedative-hypnotic drug zolpidem tartrate (Ambien); and the amphetamine phentermine. The Board’s document shows that, in all, Anic wrote 19 prescriptions for these drugs between April 2015 and November 2016..

The Board’s document also shows that she wrote another six prescriptions for the same drugs between March 2015 and January 2016. Anic told Board investigators that the person for whom she wrote the prescriptions was a former patient she’d treated in her private practice in 2012. She further stated that patient now lived in Serbia. Anic did not keep patient records for her treatment or prescribing for this patient during 2015-2016.

Source: Accusation in the Matter of the Accusation Against Svetlana Anic, M.D., Lic No. A 72349, Case No. 800-2016-028742, Medical Board of California, December 18, 2019.