'Octomom' doctor fails to win back medical license

LOS ANGELES — A California fertility doctor who infamously helped a woman give birth to octuplets lost a legal bid Thursday to win back his medical license, stripped from him due to "gross negligence."

The California Medical Board revoked Dr Michael Kamrava's license in June because of a number of cases of malpractice, chief among them the 2009 multiple birth case in which the mother became a tabloid sensation dubbed "Octomom."

The Beverly Hills-based board said Kamrava had committed "repeated negligent acts and incompetence" when he repeatedly implanted multiple embryos into Nadya Suleman, identified as "N.S." from 2002 to 2008.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected Thursday an appeal for the board's decision to be overturned.

"Revocation is the proper remedy here," said Judge James Chalfant.

Kamrava committed a "serious breach" of medical standards by failing to refer Suleman for a mental evaluation when she insisted on being implanted with a dozen embryos, far more than the maximum recommended three, he said.

The judge described Suleman -- who was unmarried, unemployed and already had six children -- as a "narcissistic, self-absorbed person."

He added that Kamrava "deviated from the standards of care" by agreeing to implant the embryos.

"When the board exercises its disciplinary functions, public protection is paramount," said the judge's ruling.

"The board is not assured that oversight through probation is enough, and having weighed the above, has determined that revocation of (Kamrava's) certificate is necessary to protect the public."

The medical board filed two lawsuits against Kamrava in 2010, accusing him of negligence and of failing to recommend that Suleman consult a mental health specialist.

The board has faulted Kamrava's treatment of other patients as well, including his alleged failure to tell one of his patients she was at risk of ovarian cancer after abnormal test results.