Gerald Barnbaum

Who is Gerald Barnbaum?

Gerald Barnbaum, aka "Gerald Barnes", "Jerold C. Barnes", "Jerald C. Barnes" and "Gerald Charles Barnes", is a former pharmacist and convicted felon who posed as a medical doctor between 1976 and 2000.

Originally trained as a pharmacist, Barnbaum had his license revoked in the aftermath of Medicaid fraud charges in 1971. He moved to California in 1976, and after having legally changed his last name to Barnes, stole the identity of a licensed medical doctor in Stockton, Gerald Barnes, and worked steadily as a physician in the Los Angeles and Southern California region for the next three years.

In 1979, his negligence and lack of medical knowledge contributed to the death of John McKenzie, a 29-year-old undiagnosed Type I diabetic from Anaheim who had complained of a dry mouth, chronic thirst, dizziness, and rapid weight loss. Although these were classic signs of uncontrolled diabetes, Barnbaum gave him a drug for vertigo and sent him home. McKenzie's blood test came back a few days later, showing a blood glucose content of 1200 mg/dL, indicating severe hyperglycemia. He was found dead in his apartment the same day. An assistant at the clinic suspected soon afterward that Barnbaum was an imposter, believing that a real doctor would have never missed such obvious symptoms. The investigation confirmed this, and in 1980 Barnbaum was charged with second-degree murder in McKenzie's death; the charge was plea-bargained down to manslaughter and practicing without a medical license, and he was sentenced to three years and four months jail, serving 19 months before being paroled.