SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGTV) — The California Medical Board is looking into a case where a San Diego doctor is accused of using dirty needles on pediatric patients.
Newly released documents by the California Medical board states Dr. Bret Robert Gerber used dirty syringes on a 2-year-old and a 10-year-old in July 2016. At the time, Dr. Gerber worked at Scripps Coastal Medical Center in Hillcrest.
The documents state a medical assistant reported seeing the doctor bring in two boxes of unauthorized needles from home. Upon closer review, she noticed that the syringes had expired in 2008, and the boxes contained dead insects and what looked to be rodent droppings.
Three years before this alleged incident, Dr. Gerber was arrested by Mono County Sheriff's deputies for having psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine, and ecstasy. Deputies found the drugs inside his Winnebago during a traffic stop as the doctor was on his way to the Burning Man Festival. He later admitted to using ecstasy at the festival.
Instead of court, Dr. Gerber went through a diversion program and the Medical Board put him on probation. However, in March 2018, documents showed Gerber violated his probation after failing to provide a bodily fluids sample for a drug test.
Despite his prior offenses, Dr. Gerber’s medical license was never revoked. Dr. Gerber continues to practice pediatric medicine twice a week, most recently at Mid-City Community Clinic in City Heights.
10News contacted the California Medical Board for comment. Officials said Dr. Gerber now faces multiple charges including gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, failure to maintain accurate medical records, and unprofessional conduct.
“The physician has the right to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge after the filing of the accusation, and that hearing has not taken place yet.”
Dr. Gerber is no longer on probation and his license is valid until January 2020.
10News spoke to Dr. Gerber on the phone Thursday afternoon. When asked about the recent accusations, he answered, “no comment.”
