Hoshang Pormir, Yorba Linda-Based Doctor, Gets Two Years Probation, Gave The Wrong Drugs To Four Elderly Patients


In the wake of his “gross negligence” when treating elderly patients, the state medical board put a Yorba Linda-based doctor on two years probation, which took effect last week.

Dr. Hoshang Pormir can't practice medicine again until he pays for, and completes, a 40-hour clinical training program. He is also prohibited from the solo practice of medicine, according to the document on the Medical Board of California's website.
Between Aug. 2006 and Jan. 2007, Pormir was the medical director in charge of patient care at a nursing home in the Kern Valley Healthcare District in Lake Isabella. Each week there were several meetings with nurses and social workers, and Pormir “never attended these meetings,” the document states. His absence meant that the interdisciplinary team “made recommendations for psychotropic medications to give to the residents without the input of a medical doctor.”

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But even when he was around, patients were given drugs that didn't match their diagnoses. In four different cases Pormir blurred the line between dementia and psychosis.

In the first case, Pormir noted that a patient had dementia related psychosis, which was a new diagnosis, but he didn't provide any evidence to support it.
Later, he gave the patient Risperdal, an antipsychotic medication, noting various incidents that he described as “psychotic behavior,” like throwing food trays and refusing medicine. The medical board, however, says neither is an example of psychotic behavior and adds that Risperdal shouldn't be used for patients who merely have dementia. What's more, the patient was given the medication without her consent, even though she was still capable of giving it. 
In the next case, an 87-year old woman had advanced dementia, but no diagnosis of psychosis. Still, Pormir gave her two antipsychotic drugs, which aren't approved for the treatment of elderly patients with dementia, the document says, saying it increases the risk of death. 
A third patient, who was also wrongfully given an antipsychotic drug, died less than a month after being admitted to the nursing home. 
And, in the fourth case, a 97-year-old woman diagnosed with senile dementia was given a psychotic drug for “pacing”, even though that is not considered psychotic behavior. For a more detailed description of the mistreatment of the fourth patient, check out ABC World News' story about her from last January. 

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