SOQUEL - Dr. Thomas Yarema, who practices at the Center for Wellness & Integrative Medicine in Soquel, has been disciplined by the state medical board.

Yarema was placed on three years' probation for failing to adequately evaluate a patient complaining of asthma and requesting a recommendation for marijuana use.

Yarema is a graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School and received his California medical license in 1985. He is trained in traditional Chinese medicine and the co-author of an award-winning Ayurvedic cookbook, "Eat Taste Heal."

Contacted by the Sentinel, Yarema declined to comment.

According to the medical board's report, the patient, an 18-year-old man, was arrested July 4, 2010, on a charge of reckless driving when police found marijuana and a digital scale in his car. Before trial, the man submitted a statement signed by Yarema and dated July 1, 2010, authorizing his use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The medical board's investigation found Yarema had seen the patient at the San Francisco Bay Therapeutic Hemp Care in Milpitas on July 25, 2010, and took a medical history indicating the patient had asthma since birth and smoked marijuana to decrease bronchospasm.

Yarema told the medical board he had reviewed the patient's medical records, but the investigation found the patient's records were not obtained by the Milpitas clinic until October 2010.

The disciplinary order, which took effect Aug. 17, requires Yarema to complete a professionalism program and a medical record-keeping course at his expense.

While on probation, he is not allowed to make house calls and must refrain from supervising more than one physician assistant. Upon successful completion of probation, his medical license will be fully restored, according to the medical board.

Follow Sentinel reporter Jondi Gumz on Twitter: @jondigumz

Read the original here:
State medical board disciplines Soquel physician