YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Dr. Dung Minh Tran, an internal medicine physician based in Yuba City, has been placed on a six-year probation by the Medical Board of California following a series of workplace misconduct allegations and an admitted inappropriate relationship with a subordinate nurse.

The decision, part of a stipulated settlement approved March 7, will take effect at 5 p.m. April 4.

Although Tran did not formally contest the charges at hearing, he stipulated to the facts of the case, agreed that the Medical Board could establish a prima facie case and waived his rights to a hearing. The board adopted the settlement, which includes a stayed license revocation and a 90-day actual suspension from practice beginning 16 days after the effective date.

The following summary is based on the stipulated disciplinary order issued by the Medical Board of California (Case No. 800-2021-084593), which includes the formal accusation and detailed terms of Tran’s probation.

Pattern of Disrespect and Intimidation

Multiple complaints were filed against Tran stemming from his conduct at Adventist Health–Rideout Hospital in Marysville, where he held clinical privileges.

In one incident from April 2021, Tran allegedly publicly berated a registered nurse (“Nurse A”) in front of Chico State nursing students, yelling, “So you don’t know anything about your patient? Why don’t you know anything about your patient?” When the nurse attempted to explain that the patient had brought up a new issue, Tran allegedly turned to a student and said loudly, “Don’t be like that nurse! Don’t be like that nurse!” while laughing and continuing to repeat the phrase. Nurse A later filed an internal complaint, describing the encounter as “completely inappropriate” and emotionally distressing.

Another staff member, a licensed respiratory therapist (“R.T. B”), said that Tran told her she needed to “be reeled in” and that “the patient’s blood would be on (her)” after she requested clarification on a treatment order in August 2021. She said that Tran had a reputation for “not providing clear and concise orders” and often called staff questions “stupid.”

Later that day, she said that Tran confronted her in front of colleagues, saying, “Who do you think you are? I am a doctor. RTs act like they have authority in this hospital. You have no authority, and I’m here to reel you in.” His alleged failure to provide proper orders reportedly delayed treatment for two patients.

Formal Warning from Hospital Leadership

Rideout’s Medical Executive Committee issued a formal letter to Tran on Nov. 14, 2021, stating that a review committee had concluded his behavior was “inappropriate and has resulted in an adverse working environment for the staff.”

“You appeared to acknowledge the issues of your perceived behavior and demonstrated some insight into the impact of your behavior on the staff as well as on patient care,” the letter said. “Such behavior cannot, and will not, be tolerated.”

Coercive Sexual Relationship with Subordinate Nurse

The most serious findings involve Tran’s admitted romantic and sexual relationship with “Nurse D,” a subordinate he supervised from April 2020 through December 2021. According to the documents, the relationship began with unwanted physical contact and escalated to sexual coercion, emotional threats and stalking.

Nurse D stated she initially complied with Tran’s requests out of fear of retaliation and felt she had to continue a sexual relationship with Tran after he refused to return a necklace bearing her and her fiancé’s initials.

In January 2021, when Nurse D sought help for her mother’s cancer diagnosis, Tran allegedly arranged expedited care and then requested she meet him at his office. There, she said he touched and kissed her and asked if he could take photos of her naked body. She complied, the nurse said, because it was the only way to ensure continued care for her mother.

In December 2021, Tran’s behavior reportedly escalated, she said, and he began threatening to confront her husband and ruin her life. In one message, she said, he texted: “You will never have a clear conscience until I forgive you… This will haunt you for life.”

He also sent messages asserting dominance, the nurse said: “I am your God. You must obey me.”

On Dec. 8, 2021, Tran allegedly drove to her residence, texting her photos of her house and threatening to confront her husband. Nurse D reported the situation to Rideout’s Human Resources the following week.

Probation Terms and Restrictions

As part of the disciplinary order, Tran must serve a 90-day suspension from medical practice, complete professionalism and boundaries courses, undergo regular psychotherapy, be monitored by an approved physician during practice and refrain from supervising physician assistants or advanced practice nurses. Also, Tran has to notify hospitals and insurers of his probation and pay $57,455 in investigation and enforcement costs.

Additionally, the Medical Board of California ordered that all allegations in the original accusation be treated as admitted facts if Tran ever petitions to reinstate or alter the terms of his license in the future.