Court Opinion

ID: 4422970
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-05 21:57:46.629539+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:16.268983
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

ARELYJIMENEZ,                                                                    )
                                                                                      No. 79690-9-I
                                         Appellant,                              )
                                                                                 )    DIVISION ONE
                           v.
                                                                                 )
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT)                                                          UNPUBLISHED OPINION
OF HEALTH,                 )
                                                                                 )    FILED: August 5, 2019
                                         Respondent.
__________________________________________________________________________________)

             SMITH, J. —Arely Jimenez appeals an order by the Department of Health

(Department) finding that she engaged in the unlicensed practice of medicine

and naturopathy and committed unprofessional conduct by doing so. She argues

that the Department violated her constitutional rights and acted arbitrarily and

capriciously in entering its findings and assessing sanctions against her. Finding

no errors, we affirm.

                                                                          FACTS

             Jimenez is a state-licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT). Jimenez

obtained a doctor of natural health degree from Clayton College, a nonaccredited

institution, which the Department does not recognize as a credential for obtaining

a license to practice natural medicine. She also attended a nonaccredited online
No. 79690-9-1/2

school to study the practice of F~Jedicine.1 At the end of the coursework, the

“American ~iedicine Licensing Board, Inc.” issued Jimenez a license to practice

l~Jedicine and assured her that the license was valid to practice nationwide.

Jimenez never obtained a license to practice medicine or naturopathy from the

Department.

          In December 2014, Jimenez opened Whidbey Naturals Alternative

Medicine (Whidbey Naturals) with Clarence Hugh Jonson, a man she met at her

church who represented himself as an attorney and board-certified naturopathic

physician. From December2014 through February 2015, Jimenez saw five

patients and treated them for varying ailments, including high blood pressure,

thyroid issues, celiac disease, insomnia, back pain, fatigue, tremors, and balance

issues. She treated these patients with natural supplements, energy treatments,

and diet and exercise recommendations.

       Unfortunately for Jimenez, Jonson was a fraud. Unbeknownst to her, he

did not have any license or credential to practice medicine or naturopathy in

Washington. The Department received two complaints about Whidbey Naturals

and opened an investigation. On January 2, 2015, investigators Mitchell

Anderson and Kathleen Mills posed as husband and wife during an appointment

with Jimenez, and Jimenez stated that she could help Mills with her fibromyalgia

and chronic fatigue symptoms. When Anderson and Mills dropped by without an

appointment on February 5, 2015, Jimenez told them that she could treat their

      1 Beverly Jackson, who issued Jimenez’s doctorate of 1~Jedicine degree,
described ~edicine as a branch of alternative medicine that is based on quantum
electrodynamics and quantum physics.
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No. 79690-9-1/3

fictional son’s posttraumatic stress disorder. Oak Harbor police arrested Jimenez

on February 17, 2015, for practicing medicine without a license.

       After a hearing, the Department issued an initial order finding that Jimenez

engaged in the unlicensed practice of medicine and naturopathy and that her

actions constituted unprofessional conduct. It issued a permanent cease and

desist order, imposed $5,000 in sanctions, and placed her MET license on

probation until the fines were paid in full. Jimenez appealed the initial order and

a review officer affirmed and issued findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a

final order. The trial court affirmed the Department’s final order. Jimenez

appeals to this court.

                         UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

       Jimenez argues that the Department acted arbitrarily and capriciously in

accusing her of unprofessional conduct under RCW 18.130.180. We disagree.

       ‘The Washington Administrative Procedure Act (APA), chapter 34.05

RCW, governs judicial review of agency decisions.” Facihih v. Dental Quality

Assur. Comm’n, 148 Wash. App. 836, 842, 202 P.3d 962 (2009). “We review

agency action from the same position as the superior court and review the

administrative record rather than the superior court’s findings or conclusions.”

Crosswhite v. Deij’t of Soc. & Health Servs., 197 Wash. App. 539, 548, 389 P.3d
731, review denied, 188 Wash. 2d 1009 (2017).

       “To find an agency’s decision to be arbitrary and capricious we must

conclude that the decision is the result of willful and unreasoning disregard of the

facts and circumstances.” Providence Hosp. of Everett v. Der’t of Soc. & Health

                                         3
No. 79690-9-1/4

Servs., 112 Wash. 2d 353, 356, 770 P.2d 1040 (1989). “Judging whether the

[agency’s] decision was arbitrary and capricious requires an evaluation of the

evidence produced at the hearing.” Pierce County Sheriff v. Civil Serv. Comm’n

for Sheriff’s Emrs., 98 Wash. 2d 690, 695, 658 P.2d 648 (1983). “The scope of

court review should be very narrow, however, and one who seeks to demonstrate

that action is arbitrary and capricious must carry a heavy burden.” Pierce County

Sheriff, 98 Wash. 2d at 695. “Findings of fact from the agency’s final order are

reviewed under the substantial evidence test and will be upheld if supported by a

sufficient quantity of evidence to persuade a fair-minded person of the order’s

truth or correctness.” Crosswhite, 197 Wash. App. at 548.

       Under RCW 18.130.180(1), “[t]he commission of any act involving moral

turpitude, dishonesty, or corruption relating to the practice of the person’s

profession, whether the act constitutes a crime or not,” constitutes unprofessional

conduct. “The principal question that arises in applying this statute concerns the

relationship between the practice of the profession and the conduct alleged to be

unprofessional.” Haleyv. Med. Disci~linar~’ Bd., 117 Wash. 2d 720, 731, 818 P.2d
1062 (1991). “To serve as grounds for professional discipline under

RCW 18.130.180(1), conduct must be ‘related to’ the practice of the profession      .

meaning that the conduct must indicate unfitness to bear the responsibilities of,

and to enjoy the privileges of, the profession.” Haley, 117 Wash. 2d at 731.

       Here, the Department found that

      [re]spondent’s conduct in falsely holding herself out as a licensed
      naturopath was an act of dishonesty. Her practice of medicine
      without a license raises concerns that she may use her professional
      position to harm members of the public (in this case, her clients or

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No. 79690-9-1/5

       patients). Respondent’s conduct also tends to lower the standing
       of the marriage and family therapy profession in the eyes of the
       public. Therefore, Respondent’s conduct meets the definition of
       moral turpitude.

Jimenez takes issue with the term of art “moral turpitude.” Even though she does

not assign error to the Department’s finding on appeal, she argues that she did

not commit moral turpitude because her “intent has always been to do good by

others,” she believed her i~edicine license was valid, she “believes in doing good

works,” and she closed her counseling practice. Even so, substantial evidence

supports the Department’s finding that Jimenez held herself out as a licensed

naturopath when she had no such license. Specifically, Jimenez sent an e-mail

to Premera Blue Cross to update her contact information with that insurance

provider and stated, “I am also a licensed Naturopath.” Additionally, both

Anderson and Mills testified that during their undercover investigation, Jimenez

held herself out to them as a naturopathic doctor. This is substantial evidence

that she falsely held herself out as a licensed naturopath, conduct that was

dishonest and constituted unprofessional conduct. Therefore, the Department’s

finding that she violated RCW 18.130.180(1) was not arbitrary and capricious.

       Jimenez argues that reversal of the Department’s final order is necessary

because the trial court “acknowledged that charging Appellant with

[RCW] 18.130.180(1) was abusive.” But the trial court simply opined that

sometimes “the law uses the worst terms possible to describe conduct” and that

was true of the term “moral turpitude” to describe dishonest behavior. The trial

court held that the Department’s finding that Jimenez committed unprofessional

                                        5
No. 79690-9-1/6

conduct was supported by substantial evidence. The trial court’s comment does

not require reversal.

       Jimenez also argues that none of her former clients testified that she held

herself out as a naturopath or a doctor of medicine. But given Jimenez’s e-mail

to Premera Blue Cross and the testimony by Anderson and Mills that Jimenez

held herself out as a naturopathic doctor to them, there was substantial evidence

that she held herself out as a naturopathic doctor despite the absence of

testimony from other clients.

       Jimenez asserts that Anderson and Mills lied and that the e-mail to

Premera Blue Cross was altered. But because the Department’s hearing officer

was in the best position to observe the evidence and witness testimony, we do

not weigh the credibility of witnesses or substitute our judgment for the agency’s

findings of fact. Port of Seattle v. Pollution Control Hr’qs Bd., 151 Wash. 2d 568,

588, 90 P.3d 659 (2004). Therefore, this assertion does not warrant reversal.

       Finally, Jimenez argues that application of RCW 18.130.180 to her

constitutes a violation of RCW 34.05.570(2), which addresses judicial review of

the validity of an agency rule. But because the Department found that Jimenez

violated RCW 18.130.180 in an agency order and not during a rule-making

process, RCW 34.05.570(2) does not apply.

                                   SANCTIONS

      Jimenez argues that the sanctions imposed by the Department should be

reversed. We disagree.

                                         6
No. 79690-9-1/7

       Under RCW 18.71 .021, “[nb person may practice or represent himself or

herself as practicing medicine without first having a valid license to do so.” A

person practices medicine if she “[o]ffers or undertakes to diagnose, cure,

advise, or prescribe for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity,

pain or other condition, physical or mental, real or imaginary, by any means or

instrumentality.” RCW 18.71.011(1). RCW 18.130.190(3) authorizes the

Department to “impose a civil fine in an amount not exceeding one thousand

dollars for each day upon which the person engaged in unlicensed practice of a

business or profession for which a license is required.”

       Here, the review officer found that Jimenez “diagnosed, advised and

treated Patients C, D, E, F, and G for medical conditions such as high blood

pressure, thyroid issues, celiac disease, tremors, back pain, possible kidney

issues, and depression.” This finding is supported by each patient’s records and

the testimony of patients D, E, F, and G, which constitute substantial evidence to

support the finding. The Department ordered Jimenez to pay a $5,000

administrative fine: $1 ,000 for each of the five patients she treated.

       Jimenez argues that the amount of the fine was excessive because she

has not worked since February 2015 due to the administrative proceedings and

health issues caused by the stress of those proceedings. While we acknowledge

that the fine may pose a financial burden to her, we can reverse only if the

Department’s decision to impose it was arbitrary and capricious. Because the

fine was authorized by statute and did not did not exceed the amount delimited

by the statute, we cannot hold that it was arbitrary and capricious.

                                          7
No. 79690-9-1/8

       For the first time in her reply brief, Jimenez argues that there is no

evidence that she practiced medicine. But she does not address the actions

described in RCW 18.71 .011(1), only the actions in RCW 18.71 .O11(2)-(4).

Because there is substantial evidence that Jimenez took some of the actions

described in RCW 18.71 .011(1), her argument is not persuasive.

                        CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS

       Jimenez argues that her constitutional rights were violated at various

times throughout the investigation and administrative process and reversal is

necessary. We disagree.

       Constitutional questions are issues of law and are reviewed de novo.

McDevitt v. Harborview Med. Ctr., 179 Wash. 2d 59, 64, 316 P.3d 469 (2013).

       First, Jimenez argues that the Oak Harbor police violated her

constitutional rights when they arrested her. Because this action involves an

administrative proceeding between Jimenez and the Department and not a

criminal proceeding or a civil lawsuit under 42 U.S.C.   § 1983, the actions of the
Oak Harbor police, however offensive to Jimenez, are not properly before this

court. Therefore, we decline to address them as a basis for reversing the

Department’s final order.

       Next, Jimenez argues that the Department violated her Fourteenth

Amendment due process right to a fair trial by denying her rights under the Sixth

Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, section 22 of the

Washington Constitution. She claims that she was denied her right to present a

defense under the Sixth Amendment and article I, section 22 when the hearing

                                         8
 No. 79690-9-1/9

officer failed to issue subpoenas to three witnesses and when the hearing officer

excluded some of her exhibits at the hearing. She also argues that her Sixth

Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel was violated. We note that

both the Sixth Amendment and article I, section 22 apply to only criminal

prosecutions and Jimenez’s probation and fine is a civil penalty, not a criminal

punishment. See Chmela v. DejD’t of Motor Vehicles, 88 Wash. 2d 385, 392, 561
P.2d 1085 (1977) (article I, section 22 and the Sixth Amendment are inapplicable

in civil cases). Therefore, her due process rights were not violated because she

is not entitled to protection under the Sixth Amendment or article I, section 22.

Any grievances Jimenez has against her attorney must proceed as a separate

malpractice claim.

       Jimenez also argues that the Department’s final order violates her First

Amendment right to list her accomplishments as a doctor of natural health and of

fciedicine. But the Department has not restricted Jimenez’s right to list her

degrees among her accomplishments. Rather, it issued a cease and desist order

that restricted her from practicing medicine and naturopathy without a license.

Because Jimenez does not have a license to practice medicine or naturopathy,

the Department did not violate her First Amendment rights by issuing the cease

and desist letter.

       Finally, Jimenez argues that the Department has violated her right to

freedom of religion under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution

and article I, section 11 because her practice of f~Jedicine was related to her

religious beliefs. Article I, section 11 “parallels the First Amendment’s religious

                                          9
No. 79690-9-1110

Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.” Open Door Baptist Church v. Clark

County, 140 Wash. 2d 143, 151, 995 P.2d 33(2000). “If government action burdens

the exercise of religion, but the State demonstrates that it has a compelling

interest in enforcing its enactment, that interest will justify the infringement of

First Amendment rights.” First Covenant Church of Seattle v. City of Seattle, 120
Wash. 2d 203, 222, 840 P.2d 174 (1992). “[Cjompelling interests are based in the

necessities of national or community life such as clear threats to public health,

peace, and welfare.” Munns v. Martin, 131 Wash. 2d 192, 200, 930 P.2d 318

(1997). Here, even assuming that the Department’s actions have infringed on

Jimenez’s right to freedom of religion, the Department has a compelling public

health and welfare interest in limiting the practice of medicine and naturopathy to

individuals licensed by the Department. To the extent that Jimenez’s practice of

1~iedicine without a Washington license burdened her exercise of religion, the

Department’s interest in public health and safety justified any infringement of her

constitutional rights.

       For the first time in her reply brief, Jimenez argues that the Department

violated her due process rights by notifying insurance companies about the

charges against her before a final order was issued. Also for the first time in her

reply, she argues that the Department violated her due process rights because it

did not apply a clear and convincing standard of proof to the evidence presented.

But because these issues were raised in her reply brief and there was no

opportunity for the Department to respond, we decline to consider them. RAP

10.3(c).

                                          10
No. 79690-9-I/I I

                            TRIAL COURT PROCEEDINGS

          Jimenez argues that the trial court erred during its review of the

Department’s final order. But any errors by the trial court do not affect our

review.

       As the reviewing court, we sit in the same position as the superior court

and apply the APA standards directly to the record before the agency. King

County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 2 v. Dept of Health, 178 Wash. 2d 363, 372, 309 P.3d
416 (2013). “[W]e do not give deference to the superior court’s rulings.” Verizon

Nw., Inc. v. Emp’t Sec. Dep’t, 164 Wash. 2d 909, 915, 194 P.3d 255 (2008).

       Jimenez argues that the trial court erred both in granting the Department’s

motion to strike exhibits attached to her briefing and in considering an

unpublished federal court order attached as an appendix to the Department’s

brief. Additionally, Jimenez argues that the trial court misstated the record when

it said that she had nine clients, rather than the actual number of five. Finally,

she argues that the trial court erred in concluding that she was not really

Jonson’s victim. The trial court did not actually say that Jimenez was not a

victim. Even assuming it did, because we apply the APA standards directly to

the administrative record and do not give deference to the superior court’s

rulings, none of these alleged errors affect our analysis on appeal and they are

not a basis for reversal.

                                           11
No. 79690-9-1/12

      We affirm.

                        L~
WECONCU

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