Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 08/04/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Hilary Moores - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Diana Gomez

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

LOCAL MAN CONVICTED OF PRACTICING
MEDICINE WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that a Sonoma County jury returned a verdict of Guilty in the case of People. vs. Norman Zucker.  Mr Zucker was convicted of practicing medicine without a valid license.  Deputy District Attorney Amy Ariyoshi tried the case before Commissioner Cynthia Denenholz in the Sonoma County Superior Court. 

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua noted that:   “The verdict in this case sends a firm  message that those who practice medicine without a license will ultimately be held accountable."

After surrendering his license to practice medicine in the State of California sometime in early 2004, Mr. Zucker then opened an alternative care practice out of his home in Sebastopol, California. In August of 2006 Mr. Zucker treated and diagnosed a client, including performing  veni-puncture, a pelvic exam and recommending that the client discontinue using drugs prescribed by another licensed physician. The client filed a complaint with the Medical Board of California shortly after seeing Mr. Zucker.  That complaint led to an investigation by the California Medical Board and a referral to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Under the applicable laws, unlicensed individuals are not allowed to treat and diagnose clients using the procedures that Mr. Zucker performed.

Mr. Zucker was sentenced to 300 hours of community service, placed on probation for 3 years and the amount of restitution to be paid is to be determined at a later hearing to be held on September 24, 2008.