Two Pasadena doctors accused of overprescribing narcotics to patients, face Medical Board sanctions

Elisa Cuellar Alvarado and Robert D. Siew have had privileges to see patients at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. Two Pasadena doctors are facing allegations from the California Medical Board that they negligently prescribed painkillers and other potentially dangerous narcotics to patients. The Medical Board accused her of gross negligence, repeated negligent acts and failing to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, according to a petition the board filed in April. The Medical Board accused Siew of gross negligence related to the care of six patients, repeated negligent acts, excessive prescribing, failing to to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, and failing to review patients’ controlled substance history using a state database before writing them prescriptions, according to a petition filed in January. He added that the Medical Board’s accusations “do not involve any of our patients.” Investigators with the California Department of Public Health launched an investigation into the nursing home in response to four complaints involving patients falling and a failure by nursing staff to respond to call lights that show requests for help from patients’ rooms.