In Sacramento, Lafayette Physician Joel Alan Gross Surrenders License To Practice Medicine

SACRAMENTO - Facing an Accusation by the Medical Board of California alleging unprofessional conduct, Lafayette physician Joel Alan Gross, M.D. has surrendered his license to practice medicine. Medical Board Executive Director Dave Thornton stated, "The mission of the Medical Board is to protect healthcare consumers. We work diligently to achieve our mission by vigorously enforcing the Medical Practice Act."

The Medical Board accused Gross of forging prescriptions to obtain controlled drugs for his own use in violation of Health and Safety.

In June 2006, the medical director of the emergency department at Sutter Delta Medical Center received a call from a local pharmacy to verify a Hydrocodone prescription for Gross by a physician who had not worked at the medical center for approximately 10 months. When questioned, Gross admitted to the medical director that he had been forging prescriptions for himself. A review by a Medical Board investigator of Gross’ patient prescription profile at a local pharmacy revealed that Gross had forged extensive prescriptions for the controlled substances Ambien and Hydrocodone dating back to November 2004.