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Doctor urges State Medical Board reform after permanent license revocation
Summary
Dr. John Panuto testified in support of SB 375, describing his permanent medical license revocation tied to fraud at a research company and urging reforms that would permit proportionate sanctions and an opportunity to apply for reinstatement.
Dr. John Panuto, a board‑certified allergist and immunologist, told the Senate Health Committee his permanent medical license revocation followed criminal matters tied to a clinical research company and that the current disciplinary process lacks flexibility for proportionate sanctions.
Panuto described his career and said he was unaware of fraud committed by the research team he worked with, acknowledged oversight failures, and recounted that the research company received over $6 million across studies while he personally received $57,000. He said the State Medical Board opted for permanent revocation and that the proposed SB 375 would permit physicians with revoked licenses to apply for reinstatement under a reformed, more rehabilitative disciplinary process.
Panel members asked clarifying questions about whether passage of the bill would immediately restore a license; Panuto acknowledged the bill would not automatically restore individual licenses but would provide an opportunity to apply to the board for reconsideration.
No committee vote on SB 375 occurred during the hearing.
