A longtime Tucson radiologist has been punished by medical authorities twice in one month — for missing a breast cancer and for failing to diagnose a fractured spine.
The disciplines were issued against Dr. Justin Weiss by the Arizona Medical Board, which also is investigating three more complaints against him.
Weiss previously owned Southwest Radiology, before it went bankrupt two years ago. He now works for TR Medical Design in Tucson.
In November, the medical board cited Weiss for "unprofessional conduct" after he failed to detect breast cancer in several mammograms taken of a 67-year-old woman who found a lump in her breast in 1998.
The cancer was not detected until 2000, when she had a mammogram at another facility.
This patient "was harmed because (Weiss) failed to properly interpret radiologic studies and her diagnosis of breast cancer was delayed," the board found. "The delay in diagnosis also reduced (her) chances for a better outcome."
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Weiss' attorney, Tom Slutes, said other local radiologists also found no cancer evidence in the mammograms Weiss examined. However, another expert contradicted that testimony.
Just weeks after the first citation, the medical board cited Weiss again, this time for failing to see a fractured spine on an X-ray he took of 47-year-old woman who fell in her home shortly after she underwent spinal surgery.
This patient "was harmed because she had neurologic consequences to the fracture-dislocation with progressive neurologic deficits," the board found.
Defending Weiss, Slutes said Weiss did note a possible fracture on the X-ray and recommended further spinal studies.
Details of the board's three ongoing investigations of Weiss will not be disclosed until the board decides on their merit.
Other Tucson physicians recently disciplined by the Arizona Medical Board:
● Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard A. Silver, cited for "unprofessional conduct" and patient harm twice in 2005.
In April, the board punished Silver for twice operating at the wrong levels on a 44-year old woman's spine. As a result, the patient suffered spinal instability and "has greater difficulties with the activities of daily living," the board found.
Six months later, the board again cited Silver, this time for performing an inadequate repair on a teenager who broke her arm in a cheerleading accident. The teen underwent a second surgery by another physician to correctly set the misaligned bones.
Silver remains under investigation by the board for another complaint against him.
● Psychiatrist Dr. John Dommisse, censured and placed on five years' probation for incorrect diagnoses and treatment of several patients, after performing unnecessary tests and skipping proper tests.
Dommisse also was cited for inaccurate patient charts, falsely claiming in his brochure to be able to prevent Alzheimer's disease, and claiming a 100 percent success rate in treating depression and panic disorder and other ailments.
Dommisse practices nutritional and metabolic medicine, without formal training in the specialties, the board noted.
Two more investigations of Dommisse are ongoing, based on other complaints.
● Internist Dr. Scott Weiss, disciplined for prescribing a prescription-only skin-bleaching drug over the Internet without examining or establishing a relationship with the patients, in violation of Arizona law.
