A doctor employed at San Quentin State Prison has been placed on a paid administrative leave while an investigation begins into his practices. According to reports the doctor, Garen Vong, was involved with three preventable inmate deaths and is currently under investigation.

Vong, described in court documents as “Dr. X”, had been known as a physician who “was dangerous and responsible for patients dying” according to Dr. Joe Goldenson, San Francisco's jail health services director.

Goldenson reviewed the file of Bobby Lee Duren, a 48-year old inmate who was serving a nine-year assault sentence. According to Goldenson, Duren was diagnosed with bronchitis, and shortly afterward suffered a heart attack and died from internal bleeding in his lungs. Duren was just one of the inmates that died suspiciously under the watch of Vong.

Suspicions surrounded the death of Duren, because officials could not determine what caused the internal bleeding of the inmate. However, Vong defended his treatment of Duren, and said he had been cleared of the other two deaths.