USC, Medical Board Respond To Firestorm Around Dean's Alleged Drug Abuse

LOS ANGELES, CA — USC officials on Wednesday acknowledged the scandal that rocked the school this week following a Los Angeles Times investigation into the former medical school dean's alleged drug abuse and association with criminals.

USC President C.L. Max Nikias pledged to "examine and address" the report, which centers on Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito's involvement in the overdose of a 22-year-old prostitute at Pasadena hotel days before he unexpectedly resigned in 2016. According to the report, a whistleblower contacted the newspaper out of concern that the Pasadena Police Department and USC officials were turning a blind eye to the renowned doctor's criminal behavior.

Nikias, speaking about the controversy for the first time in a letter to the campus community, said that "we understand the frustrations expressed about this situation" involving Puliafito, and "we are working to determine how we can best prevent these kinds of circumstances moving forward."

"Our university categorically condemns the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs," Nikias said, The Times reported. "We are concerned about Dr. Puliafito and his family and hope that, if the article’s assertions are true, he receives the help and treatment he may need for a full recovery."

Puliafito, 66, a renowned eye surgeon, led the Keck School of Medicine for nearly a decade before resigning in 2016. He remained on the Keck faculty and continued to represent the university at public events as recently as Saturday.

On Monday, The Times published an article reporting that Puliafito, during his tenure as dean, kept company with a circle of criminals and addicts who said he used drugs with them. The article quotes an alleged drug dealer and former prostitute who say they partied with the dean almost every day occasionally on campus. The article also alleges that Puliafito was seen on several videos doing drugs with young people. The same day the article came out, USC said Puliafito was no longer seeing patients and was on leave.

Patch was unable to reach Puliafito for comment. According to the Los Angeles Times, the doctor hung up on the doctor when called for comment the newspaper.

Asked if the university had discussed the Puliafito case with the California State Medical Board, USC said reports by peer review organizations were confidential, The Times reported.

"We can confirm, however, that the California Medical Board is aware of the situation," USC said in a statement quoted by The Times. "They have the sole authority to decide whether and how much to investigate."

In California, the medical board initiates investigations of doctors after receiving a complaint. According to the board, cases are given higher priority if the complaint concerns physician impairment or poses immediate harm to patients.

Puliafito resigned his $1.1 million-a-year dean’s post in March 2016, saying he wanted to explore outside opportunities.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report; Photo by University of Southern California courtesy of Wikimedia Commons