Doctor surrenders medical license after California DUI

California DUI attorneys report a California physician has surrendered his medical license after a conviction for a California DUI - driving under the influence and for using cocaine during a probationary period, the California Medical Board reported. Derek Patrick Hughes, a pediatrician, was ordered to turn in his wall certificate and pocket license. He can apply for reinstatement after two years.

Hughes, whose license was issued in 1996, was put on probation twice. He allegedly violated it both times but probation was reinstated, according to a board accusation.
While he was on probation in November 2007, a case manager for the board's Diversion Program allegedly ordered him to report for drug testing within six hours. Hughes allegedly failed to respond to phone messages and later tested positive for cocaine.

In June, he was charged with a California DUI - driving under the influence of alcohol after his blood alcohol content was measured at .10, slightly over the legal limit. He pleaded no contest in November and admitted a prior DUI conviction in August 2006. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail. Hughes stopped working as a doctor in November 2007 after the positive cocaine test, according to California DUI reports.

Drunk Driving Defense Resource Center for California