State of Nevada

Board of Medical Examiners
Press Release

Released September 21, 2001 

Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners Revokes 2 Physician Licenses, Issues 2 Public Reprimands and Enters into 2 Stipulations for Settlement

At its meeting on September 7, 2001, the board, after review and consideration of stipulations for settlement of 2 disciplinary cases, accepted the stipulations for settlement in the cases against 2 Nevada licensed medical doctors:

Elliott D. Schmerler, M.D.

The board accepted and approved a Stipulation for Settlement of a formal Complaint against Dr. Schmerler of Reno and Incline Village. The Complaint alleged: 1) Counts One & Two - performing tumescent liposuction on 2 patients in a manner which constituted malpractice, violations of NRS 630.301(4); and 2) Counts Three, Four, Five & Six - engaging in conduct intended to deceive by having 2 patients enter into agreements and executing documents pertaining to their tumescent liposuction procedures, violations of NRS 630.306(2)(a) and Ordered that Dr. Schmerler - having not contested the allegations in the board’s Complaint that: The board Ordered that Dr. Schmerler be issued a public reprimand and pay $11,700.35 as and for all administrative costs incurred in the investigation process, and further Ordered that Dr. Schmerler’s license be limited, excluding from his practice, for a period of 2 years, any and all liposuction procedures, and Ordered that he shall never use any form for patient signature such as the forms entitled "Office Surgery Discount" and that he shall complete 10 hours of continuing medical education in the area of medical ethics.

Christopher J. Von Dippe, M.D.

The board accepted and approved a Stipulation for Settlement of a formal Complaint against Dr. Von Dippe of Fallon, in which it was alleged that he treated 2 patients in a manner constituting malpractice, violations of NRS 630.301(4). Dr. Von Dippe was found guilty of 1 count of malpractice and the second alleged count of malpractice was dismissed with prejudice. The board Ordered that Dr. Von Dippe pay $500.00 as and for all administrative costs incurred in the investigation process, and that he be placed on probation until such time that he completes 10 hours of continuing medical education in the area of post-surgical complications offered in the 24th Annual Review Course in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology sponsored by the University of California.

Also, at its meeting on September 7, 2001, the board, after review and consideration of disciplinary cases presented at formal hearings, adjudicated cases against 4 Nevada licensed medical doctors:

Augusto Loaiza, M.D.

The board found Dr. Loaiza, of San Diego, CA, guilty of the 2 counts of the Complaint filed against him: 1) Count One - his license to practice medicine in California was revoked, the revocation was stayed, and he was placed on probation for 7 years, a violation of NRS 630.301(3); and 2) Count Two - failure to report to the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners the revocation of his California medical license, a violation of NRS 630.306(11). The board revoked Dr. Loaiza’s license to practice medicine in Nevada and Ordered that he pay all administrative costs incurred in the investigation and prosecution of the case against him.

John Z. McFarland, M.D.

The board found Dr. McFarland, of Moran, WY, guilty of Count 1 and not guilty of Count 2 of the Complaint filed against him: 1) Count One - answering "no" to question no. 11 of his application for renewal of his inactive status medical license in Nevada, when he knew that his license to practice medicine in Colorado was under investigation, a violation of NRS 630.304(1) - engaging in the act of attempting to renew a license to practice medicine by fraud or misrepresentation or by false, misleading, inaccurate or incomplete statement; 2) Count Two - engaging in conduct to deceive by answering "no" to question no. 11 of his application for renewal of his inactive status medical license in Nevada, a violation of NRS 630.306(2)(a). The board Ordered that Dr. McFarland pay all administrative costs incurred in the investigation and prosecution of the case against him and that he be issued a public reprimand.

Catherine N. Noel-Uyloan, M.D.

The board found Dr. Noel-Uyloan, of Cypress, CA, guilty of the single count of the Complaint filed against her, in which it was alleged that her license to practice medicine in California was revoked, the revocation was stayed, and she was placed on probation for 7 years, a violation of NRS 630.301(3). The board revoked Dr. Noel-Uyloan’s license to practice medicine in Nevada and Ordered that she pay all administrative costs incurred in the investigation and prosecution of the case against her.

Dusan J. Surman, M.D.

The board found Dr. Surman, of Portland, OR, guilty of the single count of the Complaint filed against him, in which it was alleged that he voluntarily withdrew from the practice of medicine in Oregon while under investigation by Oregon’s medical board, a violation of NRS 630.301(3). The board Ordered that Dr. Surman be issued a public reprimand and pay all administrative costs incurred in the investigation and prosecution of the case against him.

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