Dr. David Chao's treatment of NFL Hall of Famer Junior Seau could cost him his license — 5 things to know

Orthopedic Sports Medicine

Former San Diego Chargers physician David J. Chao, MD, who treated NFL Hall of Famer Junior Seau from 1997 until the linebacker's suicide in 2012, is facing permanent revocation of his medical license, according to the NY Daily News.

Here are five things to know:

 

1. The California state medical board has called for a hearing after the board accused Dr. Chao of gross negligence, prescribing medication without a prior examination and unprofessional conduct, among other things, in relation to his treatment of Mr. Seau, who was battling depression and sleep deprivation prior to his suicide.

 

2. According to the complaint, Dr. Chao wrote Mr. Seau 14 prescriptions of Ambien over the 18 months following the retired player's car crash in 2010 leading up to his suicide.

 

3. Dr. Chao, who resigned as the San Diego Chargers' physician in 2013, told investigators a year later that he had informed Mr. Seau of the medication's side effects.

 

4. Dr. Chao was given five years probation and his medical license was revoked in 2014, but the revocation has been on hold during his time on probation.

 

5. Dr. Chao earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and completed his residency at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. He also completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Minneapolis Sports Medical Center.

 

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