An arbitration panel this week awarded $2.2 million to a former patient of Chargers team doctor David Chao, adding to a long string of legal troubles for the San Diego physician.
During a hip surgery in 2007, Chao lacerated Kathleen Adams' femoral artery, vein and nerve, causing chronic pain and a limp, according to the panel's finding, which was announced Thursday.
Last year, the 46-year-old doctor's medical offices were raided by federal agents over allegations that he had written more than 100 prescriptions with himself listed as the patient. At the time, Chao denied the allegations, claiming clerical errors were made. A Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman recently said the investigation remains ongoing, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Chao has been sued 20 times since 1998 by patients alleging malpractice, personal injury, negligence or fraud, according to the newspaper, which reported that at least eight of those have been settled with payouts to plaintiffs.
Chao previously has been accused of abusing alcohol and unprofessional conduct by the state medical board over two incidents in 2006 and 1995. In 2002, the medical board cited Chao $1,000 for failure to maintain adequate and accurate medical records, the Union-Tribune reported.
