Sullivan also said that the purpose of removing a physician's license is to protect the population and rehabilitate the physician, not to restore public confidence, as stated in the decision. The confusion happened in June 2000 when Katz implanted three embryos intended for another woman into Susan Campbell Buchweitz. The embryos were created through in vitro fertilization using sperm from the husband of the intended woman and eggs from donors. His recommendation, contained in a 23-page proposed decision to revoke the doctor’s license, was approved on March 28 by the medical board. Sullivan argued that one of the experts of the medical board, Dr. Eldon Schriock, who operates a fertility clinic in San Francisco, is a competitor of Katz. Katz, who runs Fertility Associates of the Bay Area, realized the mistake within 10 minutes of the proceedings after his embryologist, Imam El-Danasouri, informed him that the wrong embryos had been given, according to the decision. Katz, who has offices in Greenbrae in Marin County and San Francisco, requested the Board to reconsider its decision, but the board refused to do so on April 20. "The defendant was surprised. He stated that his reaction was such that I almost fainted," the decision said. "This case concerns some of the most serious mistakes a doctor can imagine, and nothing less than revocation will restore public confidence that this type of behavior will not be tolerated by the medical profession," wrote Administrative Law Judge Jonathan Lew.
Doctor Loses License After Implanting Wrong Embryos: Katz refused to respond, but his lawyer, Robert Sullivan, of Sacramento, said, "The penalty is excessive and purely punitive." Sullivan said Katz plans to appeal the board's decision in Sacramento Superior Court. "That was years ago. This is a unique set of facts. Yes, the doctor made a mistake," Sullivan said, but added that Katz had learned from the experience and improved his procedures.
Doctor Loses License After Implanting Wrong Embryos: SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - A fertility specialist doctor who implanted the wrong embryo in a woman and allegedly engaged in an 18-month cover-up has lost his medical license and must close his practice on Wednesday. The Medical Board of California ruled last month that Dr. Steven Katz is no longer allowed to practice medicine because he did not tell the truth to the two women involved in the confusion.