Bellingham, Wash. Doctor Charged With Using Outdated Flu Vaccine Faces New Charges, Including Alleged Sexual Contact With Patient and Negligent Care

OLYMPIA, Wash. --  The Medical Quality Assurance Commission and the state Department of Health have added new charges against a Bellingham physician accused of using expired flu vaccine last fall. The amended statement of charges against Gary McCallum, MD, lists alleged sexual contact with a patient, providing negligent care to patients, poor record-keeping, aiding and abetting unlicensed practice in his office, providing false information during the investigation, and theft.

In the original statement of charges issued last November, the commission charged McCallum with injecting expired flu vaccine into more than 50 patients. McCallum responded to those charges and now has 20 days to respond to the amended statement of charges and to request an opportunity for settlement or hearing.

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission regulates physicians and physician assistants in Washington. The program establishes, monitors, and enforces qualifications for licensing, consistent standards of practice, continuing competency mechanisms and discipline. Rules, policies and procedures promote the delivery of quality healthcare to state residents.

Source: Washington State Department of Health