CA Medical Board Reprimands Psychiatrist Monissa Solberg (UCLA '07); Disciplined by Rhode Island for "Intimate" Relationship with Patient

May 22, 2020

On March 18, 2020, the Medical Board of California issued a public reprimand on the license of psychiatrist Monissa Solberg, based on disciplinary action which was taken upon her by the medical licensing authority of Rhode Island, resulting in the voluntary surrender of her Rhode Island medical license.

According to the California Board’s document:

The Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure found that Solberg engaged in an intimate relationship with a former patient and that she had prescribed the patient an opioid, at which point the former patient thus became her patient again. However, she did not document the encounter. The relationship ended in December 2016.

Solberg was in the middle of divorce.

The Rhode Island Board also found that Solberg failed to check the state prescription monitoring program prior to prescribing an opioid to the patient. Additionally, the Rhode Island Board found that her records for the patient violated a Rhode Island state statute by failing to contain adequate documentation of educating the patient about the adverse risk of taking alcohol, or other psychoactive medications, specifically benzodiazepines, or the risk of tolerance, addiction, overdose or death. Further the records failed to note that it was the patient's responsibility to safeguard the medication and keep it in a secure location, and failed to document that the patient had been educated about safe disposal options.

On August 7, 2018, Solberg voluntarily surrendered her Rhode Island medical license. The surrender became effective on November 6, 2018. Solberg was required to complete an evaluation and agree to follow the recommendation of the evaluator.

On February 13, 2019, after having complied with terms and conditions placed upon by the Rhode Island Board, her Rhode Island medical license was restored without restriction. Solberg is presently in an outpatient private practice.

Solberg received her medical degree in 2007 from UCLA, where she also did her residency in psychiatry.

Source: Decision in the Matter of the Accusation Against Monissa Joyce Solberg, M.D., License No. A 107304, Case No. 800-2018-047465, Medical Board of California, May 21, 2020.