Source: NJ.com
Two doctors accused of inappropriate sexual conduct have agreed to surrender their licenses to practice medicine in New Jersey, Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced Monday.
Bergenfield internist Raja K Jagtiani agreed to forfeit his license when he pleaded guilty last month to criminal sexual contact involving five patients and three female employees, according to Porrino’s statement on behalf of the state Board of Medical Examiners.
In a separate action, Jadan H. Abbassi, an anesthesiologist in Clifton, surrendered his license for good to settle allegations he engaged in inappropriate behavior with a patient. Abbassi denies he did anything wrong, Porrino said.
“Doctor-patient trust serves as the bedrock of the medical profession, and sexual exploitation of patients is the gravest imaginable violation of this trust,” said Attorney General Porrino. “We will continue to ensure that these licensed predators are weeded out of our medical community.”
Jagtiani was arrested on Aug. 25 2015 and charged criminal sexual contact, simple assault and harassment. Police identified three current and former employees and a patient as alleged victims. He pleaded guilty in state Superior Court in Bergen County last month to one count of criminal sexual contact involving eight victims
The board revoked his license for “repeated acts of negligence, repeated professional misconduct, sexual misconduct, and acts constituting crimes of moral turpitude and crimes which relate adversely to the practice of medicine.”
The license revocation lasts 10 years, after which time Jagtiani may reapply after completing “an educational course on professional boundaries and undergone competency and psychosexual evaluations.”
If he is reinstated, Jagtiani would have to first pay a $20,000 penalty and reimburse the state $4,343 for investigation costs, as well as accept any practice restrictions the board deems necessary.
Abbassi was accused of “inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature” last year in a complaint to the medical board. He denied the allegation, but in order to avoid a disciplinary hearing, he agreed to surrender his license on Tuesday, Nov. 1, according to Porrino’s announcement.
“Dr. Abbassi has denied any allegation against him, and it’s significant to note that in the consent order that was included,” his attorney Joseph Gorrell of Roseland said. “Dr Abbassi was planning to retire and does have certain health issues which entered into his decision.”
An Oct. 7 agreement with the board has prohibited him from accepting new patients and required that he be chaperoned with female patients, the announcement said.
The Enforcement Bureau of the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs conducted the investigations.