Source: NJ.com Health
A Paterson physician agreed to suspend his practice while he faces charges that he groped female patients and employees in an “escalating pattern of sexual misconduct” over three years, acting Attorney General Robert Lougy announced Monday.
State investigators claimed Alex Sarkodie touched and licked a patient’s breast during an exam, groped a medical assistant’s breast, and smacked another employee’s buttocks. The allegations also say he made lewd comments to employees and patients, Lougy’s announcement said.
The “sexually abusive” behavior took place between May 2013 to March 2016, Lougy’s announcement said.
The doctor’s attorney, Jef Henninger, said the doctor will fight the charges. “Please note that by agreeing to the suspension, my client did not admit anything. In fact he filed an answer denying the charges,” according to an email from Henninger.
Sarkodie is an internist and pediatrician who has been licensed in New Jersey since 2000, according to the website for the Board of Medical Examiners, the state’s doctor licensing and disciplinary body. The medical board is scheduled to hear his case on July 13.
“Patients who turn to their doctors for medical care deserve to be treated with respect and professionalism, not subjected to degrading assaults by sexual predators hiding behind their medical degrees,” according to a statement from Lougy’s office. “We will continue to utilize the full scope of our powers to combat doctors who abuse their privileges by preying on patients.”
In late April, the state revoked the license of a north Jersey anesthesiologist Amgad Hessein, owner of Advanced Pain Management Specialists with offices in Newark, Union, Belleville and South Orange. His license has been suspended since his indictment in 2011.
Hessein, of Belmar, and his brother were accused of netting about $5 million on $52 billion in false billings. The state board also cited Hessein for indiscriminately prescribing addictive painkillers, providing steroid injections without medical justification and allowing unlicensed employees to provide treatment.