An Oakland orthopedic surgeon, and popular AME, who surrendered his medical license last year on grounds of sexual and unprofessional conduct, has now also been suspended from participating in California’s workers’ compensation system.
The DWC said John David Warbritton III, M.D. was one of 20 medical providers it recently suspended from participating in the workers’ compensation system, bringing the total number of providers suspended to 197.
Warbritton was a graduate of Harvard Medical School in 1980, and had an office at Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. He surrendered his medical license on April 7, 2017, after the California Medical Board accused him of sexually harassing two of his workers’ compensation patients.
Warbritton is also facing felony criminal charges in federal court for allegedly transporting child pornography.
The criminal indictment, which was filed on Oct. 13, 2016, alleges that Warbritton violated federal law by knowingly transporting child pornography. He was initially released on an unsecured bond.
But, after the United States Pretrial Services officer reported a violation of his conditions of release (possessing child pornography images on a mobile phone), the Honorable Magistrate Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte held a bail review hearing on January 17, 2017, and detained Dr. Warbritton. He was placed in the Santa Rita Jail.
Last May, he filed a Motion to Reopen his Detention Hearing. His lawyers claimed that “At the time of the alleged offense conduct and the subsequent pretrial release violation in this matter, Dr. Warbritton was suffering from both opioid use disorder and sexual impulsivity disorder.” They claim he subsequently began treatment with Carolyn Ann Schuman, M.D. for his opioid addiction, and that “his incarceration ultimately allowed him to “dry out” from the use of opioids and allowed the Suboxone treatment employed by Dr. Schuman to take effect.”
Prosecutors opposed the Motion claiming “defendant has been a hands-on offender because the defendant was arrested after returning to the United States from Thailand, where he admitted to agents he has spent long periods of time for the last several years” And among the child pornography taken from him by authorities, “one photo collage depicted the defendant along with an Asian female aged 8-10 years old. ….This photograph collage also raises concerns about whether the defendant may be a hands-on offender or someone who was preparing to do so.”
Prosecutors concluding by saying there are no conditions of release that could reasonably assure the safety of the community. Warbritton remains in custody awaiting trial.