Puyallup pediatrician barred from practicing medicine

A Puyallup pediatrician has been suspended from practicing medicine by the state medical licensing board, which has accused him of having sexual contact with two mothers of his patients.

Dr. Timothy B. Jolley, who practices at Puyallup Valley Pediatric, was previously disciplined for sexual misconduct with patients' family members.

Jolley, 58, did not return a call for comment.

His lawyer, Ted Coulson, said: "We don't agree with those charges nor the summary suspension, and we plan on contesting that. Dr. Jolley strongly believes he is practicing medicine with skill and safety."

In 1988, the state's Medical Quality Assurance Commission placed restrictions on Jolley's license, requiring him to have a chaperone present during exams with female patients or patients accompanied by a female and to refrain from sexual involvement with patients' family members, among other things.

According to the board's accusations, Jolley had an ongoing sexual relationship with the mother of two of his patients from 1988 until 1991. He also had a sexual relationship with the mother of four other patients from November 2002 until early this year.

The latter woman's estranged husband, the father of the four patients, said he was relieved that the doctor's license had been suspended.

"You trust this person. He's your doctor. He's your pediatrician who takes care of your children. ... "

The commission can summarily suspend a license when it finds "imminent danger" to the public health, safety and welfare.

Jolley has 20 days to respond to the allegations made by the medical board. He could request a prompt hearing to present his side, respond to the charges and ask for a settlement discussion, or respond to the charges and wait for a regularly scheduled hearing, which likely would be after the first of the year.

Such hearings are open to the public.

Carol M. Ostrom: 206-464-2249 or costrom@seattletimes.com