CHULA VISTA, Calif. — A Chula Vista labor and delivery doctor who appeared on CBS’ "The Amazing Race" was placed on medical probation for gross negligence in February.
According to a signed stipulated settlement and disciplinary order obtained by CBS 8, the California Medical Board placed Dr. Rick T. Chac on probation for 35 months.
In its 2022 accusation, the board alleged that Chac, who currently practices on Old Telegraph Road in Chula Vista, was negligent in the medical treatment of three pregnant women that involved a stillbirth and infants suffering injuries. from 2017 through 2019.
“Respondent does not contest that, at an administrative hearing, Complainant could establish a prima facie case with respect to the charges and allegations,” reads the disciplinary order. However, Chac made no admissions of guilt with respect to any of the allegations in the Medical Board’s accusation.
Probation
A condition of Chac’s medical probation requires him to hire a medical board-approved “monitor” who will oversee the medical practice's operations including billing and medical care.
The monitor is prohibited from having any prior relationship with Chac or the medical practice.
Chac’s medical probation is also contingent on completing 40 hours of education ‘’aimed at correcting any areas of deficient practice” and undergoing ethics training.
The medical board prohibits Chac from supervising physician assistants or advanced practice nurses.
'Gross negligence'
The first alleged act of medical negligence was in August 2017. A 24-year-old woman referred to as "Patient B" in the medical board complaint was admitted to the hospital for a check-up months after irregularities in her pregnancy had been detected.
According to the medical board, Chac recorded high blood pressure in the mother and a "decreased fetal heart variability as well as concerning fetal heart rate decelerations."
But instead of keeping the woman for evaluation, the medical board says Chac gave the woman medication and ordered her discharge from the hospital.
After a follow-up ultrasound was performed the following day, on August 19 the woman went to the hospital after not feeling her baby move. An ultrasound found the baby had died.
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Another accusation against Chac by a woman referred to as "Patient C" involved a cesarean section in 2017.
According to medical board investigators, the baby suffered numerous lacerations during the c-section that Chac performed.
The medical board determined that Chac was negligent in his treatment "by performing one or more medical interventions in a manner resulting in multiple lacerations or abrasions to the patient's fetus or infant."
A third accusation against Chac by a woman referred to as "Patient A" occurred in January 2019.
According to the allegations, Chac "changed Patient A's [estimated due date]" to approximately three weeks prior to the initial due date.
On February 18, 2019, one day prior to the woman's new estimated due date, the woman arrived at the hospital and Chac began to induce labor.
According to the medical board, the following day as induction continued, Chac received the 11-week ultrasound which had the actual due date set for March 8, 2019, more than two weeks later.
Chac allegedly continued with the induction and the baby was born the following day.
"Patient A's infant was admitted to the hospital's newborn intensive care unit for respiratory distress and later transferred to another facility for continued care," reads the board's accusation documents.
Added the board, "[Chac] committed gross negligence...by rendering inadequate prenatal care and an improper induction..."
Chac has not responded to CBS 8's request for comment.
