Williamson

This is an appeal from a judgment granting a writ of administrative mandamus against appellant Board of Medical Quality Assurance of the State of California (the Board). The proceedings below were instituted by respondent William T. Williamson, M.D. (respondent), who sought an order setting aside a decision of the Board revoking his license as a medical doctor. The judgment ordered the Board “to reconsider the discipline imposed and make findings as to the propriety and applicability of less drastic alternatives of discipline.”

Facts and Procedural History

The underlying facts are not in dispute. They are succinctly stated in the proposed statement of decision prepared by the administrative law judge and adopted by the Board. The Board’s decision is attached to this opinion as an appendix and incorporated herein. In sum, the statement of decision reveals that respondent, a 79-year-old physician, has a history of long-term drug dependency and of prescribing dangerous drugs/controlled substances to others without a good faith prior examination and medical indication. Consequently, the Board revoked his license to practice medicine.

After the Board revoked respondent’s…