OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Medical Quality Assurance Commission and the Washington State Department of Health have issued another amended statement of charges in the case of Charles C. Momah, MD. A summary suspension served in September against the license of the King County physician led to 38 additional complaints, from which the new charges have come. Momah has been suspended and out of practice since the summary suspension was served.

New allegations in the amended statement of charges include one additional case involving standard of care issues and breach of confidentiality. The amended document combines the new information with the previous sets of charges — one alleging standard of care issues (June 17, ) and one alleging rape (Sept. 11, summary suspension). All counts will be included in a hearing at a later date.

The summary suspension in September alleged that Momah raped a 21-year-old patient during an examination in his office; that statement of charges also accuses Momah of threatening the patient with retaliation if she reported the event to police. To protect the public, the commission immediately removed Momah from practice based on charges of unprofessional conduct including moral turpitude, sexual contact, and interference with an investigation.

The Medical Commission had previously issued a statement of charges against Momah’s license (June 17). These standard-of-care allegations include misrepresenting facts on a re-credentialing application for a healthcare provider network and incompetence, negligence or malpractice for providing care that resulted in harm or created an unreasonable risk of harm to patients. More than two dozen additional complaints remain in the process.

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission regulates physicians and physician assistants in Washington state. The program establishes, monitors, and enforces qualifications for licensing, consistent standards of practice, continuing competency mechanisms and discipline.

Source: Washington State Department of Health