License Suspended of Doctor Who Performed Penile Surgeries

A Culver City physician who has performed 5,000 penile enlargement surgeries--and triggered scores of malpractice suits--had his medical license suspended Friday by a state administrative law judge who said he was guilty of gross negligence and incompetence.

The ruling went against Dr. Melvyn Rosenstein, who in advertising calls himself the world’s leading authority on penis enlargement surgery. It will stand until the conclusion of a full-blown administrative court hearing on efforts by the Medical Board of California to permanently revoke or restrict the physician’s medical license.

Administrative Law Judge Samuel D. Reyes said Rosenstein made “false statements” to clients on their medical condition and engaged in “false and misleading advertising.”

“Permitting [Rosenstein] to continue to engage in the practice of medicine in light of these violations and the underlying circumstances will endanger the public health, safety and welfare,” said Reyes in the written ruling. “The likelihood of injury to the public in not issuing the order outweighs the likelihood of injury to respondent in issuing the order.”

Rosenstein did not have an immediate comment. In earlier statements, he has denied the charges of negligence and incompetence and said he would fight for the full restoration of his medical license.