Convicted physician continues practicing
Josh Kleinbaum, Staff Writer
Three years after being convicted of sexually exploiting two patients, an osteopathic physician still practices medicine at a Panorama City clinic because of the tangled bureaucracy involved in taking disciplinary action, interviews and documents show. Dr. Laurence Reich of Los Angeles, who faced disciplinary action for similar problems earlier in his career, pleaded no contest in December 2002 to performing sexual acts on two female patients. He was sentenced to a day in jail - time served - and a year’s probation. Officials said he was not fined because he had filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and had no personal assets. A hearing that could result in the suspension or revocation of Reich’s medical license was postponed twice and is now scheduled for February while the agencies involved wrangle about the appropriate punishment, officials said. The delays frustrate his victims and worry the Los Angeles County prosecutor who handled the plea bargain in the doctor’s criminal case.
