Unconscious Doctor Accused of Drug Theft; Records Reveal Multiple Suspected Thefts

An anesthesiologist suspected of stealing drugs from UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals was transferred from the organization’s Oakland campus to the sister campus in San Francisco, where less than two hours after she was scheduled to assist with a 2-year-old’s surgery, she was found unconscious in an operating room, according to police reports.

When the anesthesiologist was discovered on March 5, an IV needle jutted out of her arm amid a constellation of track marks, UCSF police officers said in a report. They said both the IV drip and a syringe found in her possession contained propofol, a powerful anesthetic commonly used to keep people sedated during surgeries.

The doctor was arrested on suspicion of drug possession, burglary and embezzlement of property by a public or private officer, but was subsequently released and has not been charged. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office asked investigators for more information prior to making a charging decision, an office spokesperson said.

Randy Knox, an attorney for the anesthesiologist, said his client was suspended for 10 days in January, prior to her transfer. She took a voluntary leave of absence after the March incident and is now in residential treatment for substance abuse, Knox said.

A profile for the doctor, whom the Chronicle is not naming because she hasn’t been charged, remains active on the UCSF Health system’s website.

It’s not unusual for physicians and other medical professionals to develop substance abuse problems, and anesthesiologists, who often have greater access to powerful prescription drugs, are especially at risk. One widely cited study reported that instances of substance abuse in anesthesiologists were 2.7 times greater than other physician groups.

The incident in March wasn’t the first time the doctor had been accused of stealing drugs from the hospital system, court records show. Her transfer from Oakland followed a string of suspected thefts of propofol at that campus between November and January.

A representative from UCSF Health, speaking on behalf of both the medical facility and the law enforcement looking into the incident, chose not to comment, referring to the necessity of maintaining privacy regarding employee issues.

A representative from the California medical board, responsible for licensing and sanctioning physicians, stated that no punitive measures have been implemented regarding this particular doctor’s certification. Authorities could not provide insight into whether any grievances concerning the physician had been submitted to their office, citing state regulations that prevent them from disclosing such information. According to these rules, suspensions shorter than two weeks do not mandate reporting to the medical board.

Based on an affidavit submitted with a search warrant request by the UCSF police, the initial allegation of drug theft involving the physician surfaced on November 18. An anesthesiology technician was reportedly caught removing three 50 mg vials of propofol from the Oakland facility’s outpatient clinic. After these vials were retrieved and stored in a secure office, they once more vanished, according to law enforcement statements.

According to the search warrant affidavit filed by the police, surveillance footage showed the doctor going into and leaving the office around the time when authorities suspected the theft of the bottles occurred. Additionally, the technician informed investigators that the doctor had directed her to remove the propofol.

The court documents did not specify the result of the preliminary investigation. However, according to the search warrant affidavit, by New Year’s Eve, the physician was still employed and permitted entry into secured drug-storage zones, coinciding with reports of the earliest instances of propofol pilfering.

The police report indicates that 18 vials were noted as stolen on December 31st. An additional eight vials were marked as missing January 2nd, followed by an extra 25 being declared absent on January 6th. The search warrant affidavit notes that every time these medications disappeared, either the physician was present during their shift or her identification had logged entry into the secured zone where the substances were kept.

After the events at Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, (the doctor) was relocated to Benioff Children’s Hospital located in Mission Bay," UCSF Police Officer Jonathan Duong stated. "(The doctor) started working and entering various sections of the Mission Bay facility beginning February 6, 2025.

On March 7, during their search of the doctor’s residence, law enforcement officials confiscated 20 ml of propofol and 5 ml of lidocaine, according to court records.

Although substance misuse and drug theft aren't rare among medical professionals, what stands out as "exceptional" was how UCSF managed the events leading up to the physician's likely overdose in March, according to Daniel Horowitz, a lawyer from the Bay Area who frequently defends doctors facing disciplinary action. Usually, Horowitz explained, practitioners alleged to have diverted medications are put on administrative leave and must typically undergo rehabilitation before being allowed back to work.

When reviewing the case files as requested by the Chronicle, Horowitz stated that transferring a physician accused of drug theft to another medical institution and permitting them to keep handling medications while caring for minors might endanger patients and enable the continuation of harmful conduct. "This is utterly irresponsible," he commented.