A retired physician and prominent supporter of Michele Bachmann who appeared with the congresswoman at her press conference in Woodbury June 16 was forced to give up his medical license in two states and had his Minnesota medical license restricted.
Robert W. Tatreau of Woodbury serves as vice-chair of the Minnesota Republican Party’s House District 56A Committee and treasurer of the 10th Judicial District Evaluation Committee. He’s contributed to and hosted events for Bachmann as well.
Tatreau praised Bachmann at a press conference she held at a Woodbury gas station to announce her dubious proposal to drill our way back to $2-a-gallon gasoline.
“Thank God for people like Michele, and I hope Congress listens,” Tatreau gushed, as he joined her in front of the cameras.
However, Tatreau’s medical profession past may not serve as the best character reference for Bachmann. In 1989, he was forced to surrender his medical license in California and Colorado. And in 1996, Minnesota reprimanded him and restricted his ability to practice his specialty—ob/gyn—without special approval.
According to documents on file with the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, Tatreau, 65, a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, was granted his Minnesota physician and surgeon license in 1974. He completed post-graduate training in ob/gyn at St. Paul Ramsey Hospital (now Regions Hospital) from 1974-1978.
In 1978, Tatreau was issued a certificate to practice medicine and surgery in the state of California. On June 24, 1986, the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance filed an accusation against Tatreau alleging that he “committed acts of negligence and incompetence in discharging his duties as a physician.” In 1987, a supplemental accusation was filed alleging acts of “gross negligence and incompetence in discharging his duties as a physician.” And in 1988, a second supplemental accusation was filed alleging Tatreau of committing “acts of unprofessional conduct, gross negligence, repeated similar negligent acts, incompetence and corruption in discharging his duties as a physician and surgeon.”
All of the allegations resulted from Tatreau’s treatment of seven patients at his obstetrics and gynecology practice in California between June 1981 and May 1984. Specific details of the allegations were not immediately available. On March 24, 1989, Tatreau and the Board entered into a stipulation agreement that required Tatreau to surrender his California medical certificate. He also relinquished any rights to renew or reinstate his certificate without the approval of the Board.
Meanwhile, in 1985, Tatreau was granted a certificate to practice medicine in Colorado. That state’s Board of Medical Examiners also began an investigation of Tatreau’s medical practice and discovered that when he had applied for his Colorado license, he failed to inform the state of one of the two California hospitals that had suspended his staff privileges.
On January 18, 1989, Tatreau and the State of Colorado entered into a stipulation agreement that required Tatreau to surrender his medical license there as well. In the agreement, Tatreau admitted that he had engaged in “fraud, misrepresentation or deception” in applying for his medical license.
Tatreau had returned to Minnesota in September 1988 and in November 1989, the Complaint Review Committee of the Minnesota Board of Medical Examiners informed Tatreau that they had become aware of the disciplinary actions against him in California and Colorado. The committee continued its investigation for several years and in 1994, attempted to reach an agreement with Tatreau.
A contested case hearing on the matter was held in February 1996 before an administrative law judge. In May, based on the ALJ’s recommendation, the Board reprimanded Tatreau, ordered him to pay the costs of the investigation, and required him to obtain from the Complaint Review Committee pre-approval of his practice setting and a determination of fitness prior to commencing his obstetrics and gynecology practice.
Tatreau appealed the Board of Medical Examiners order to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where it was affirmed.
Tatreau listed his occupation in Minnesota as “self employed/physician” as recently as August 2007 on a Federal Election Commission record of a $100 contribution to Bachmann. His Minnesota medical license expires September 30, 2008. However, Tatreau stated recently he is now retired.
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