Sona Patel

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Sona Patel
Born
Paramount, California, United States
NationalityIndian American
Alma materUniversity of California, Irvine (B.S.), Ross University School of Medicine (M.D.)

Sona Patel is a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), also known as "DOC420" from California, US.[1] Patel was a licensed and board-certified physician in California beginning in 2004. In 2005, she started DOC420, a pioneering practice that recommends medical cannabis (or medical marijuana) as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs under California Proposition 215 (1996) (or the Compassionate Use Act).[2] She provided recommendations for marijuana on a fraudulent basis, for which she lost her license to practice medicine.

Early life and education[]

Patel, an Indian American, was raised along with her younger sister, Mona Patel, in Paramount, California.[citation needed]

Patel's passion for Indian classical dance and modelling set the stage for her to win more than 20 talent and dance competition awards. Her modelling career reached a climax in 1994, when she was awarded Model Search India's title of Super Model India, as well as Miss Photogenic.[1] With her newfound Bollywood popularity, Patel became actively involved in the Indian community to raise awareness for charities, giving birth to her philanthropic side.

She graduated from Ruben S. Ayala High School in Chino Hills, California in 1994. In 1998, Patel earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from University of California, Irvine.[3] She then entered medical school at Ross University School of Medicine[4] in the island nation of Dominica, where she earned a medical doctorate (M.D.) degree in 2002.[citation needed]

Upon earning her M.D., Patel continued her education with post-doctoral training at Riverside County Regional Medical Center, a teaching hospital in Moreno Valley, California. During her residency, Patel also taught physician's-assistant courses as an adjunct faculty member at Riverside City College in Riverside, California.[citation needed]

Career[]

In 2005, Patel was certified as a licensed family-practice physician by the Medical Board of California. She started a free clinic in Los Angeles, California in 2005, gaining funding by the United States Armed Forces and the government of California. Patel's free clinic offered physical examinations, vaccines, birth control, emergency contraception, STD tests, and health screenings regardless of age, income, race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or health insurance. Patel also provided meals every weekend to underserved communities.

Medical Marijuana Practice[]

Given the constant controversy around the subject of marijuana, Patel was hesitant to get involved in the medical marijuana revolution. Having witnessed a few of her family-practice patients' success with medical marijuana treatment, she began researching the different uses and benefits of marijuana. After finding that patients often got greater relief from marijuana than from prescription drugs, and reported no side effects, she incorporated medical marijuana into her practice in 2005.[5]

She tells CNN, "I strictly follow all of the laws ..."[6] She has also become known for aggressively defending her patients,[7] often going to court to vindicate patients wrongly accused of crimes and serving as an expert witness.

Additional pursuits[]

Along with her medical marijuana practice, Patel is active in real estate, start-up investments, and is currently producing a line of cosmetics and clothing derived from hemp. Patel is also author of A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Marijuana,[8] a book that further outlines the history of medical marijuana as well as her turbulent entry and struggles within the industry.

End of medical career[]

Dr. Patel's license to practice medicine was revoked for negligence and fraud in 2013.[9] She provided recommendations for medical marijuana to undercover investigators on two occasions without performing an adequate evaluation, then lied about it. Initially, the license revocation was suspended and Dr. Patel was placed on probation. However, she failed to comply with the terms of her probation by not maintaining an active license and by not practicing medicine for over two years. Her license was permanently revoked in 2020.[10]

Bibliography[]

  • A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Marijuana (April 2011 ISBN 1467597600)

References[]

  1. ^ a b Hollywood Weekly, June 2011 "The Doctor is In," by B. Smith
  2. ^ LOPEZ, STEVE (2009-11-18). "Prescribing pot in high heels". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  3. ^ Lewis, Amanda (2014-04-11). "Why the Sexy Pot Doc May Be Put Out of Business". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  4. ^ "Doc 420, The Medical Marijuana Doctor". abc7news.com I-Team. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  5. ^ Los Angeles Times, November 18, 2009, "Prescribing pot in high heels," by Steve Lopez
  6. ^ CNN "Easy to get medical pot in California"
  7. ^ Green Acres Magazine, June 2012
  8. ^ “A Comprehensive Guide to Medical Marijuana”
  9. ^ Medical Board of California (October 18, 2013). "Stipulated settlement and disciplinary order". Department of Consumer Affairs – via State of California.
  10. ^ "Medical Board of California". www.mbc.ca.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-08.

External links[]

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