A Connecticut physician has received a summary suspension after he was accused of providing two patients with prescriptions for medications – including for controlled substances – in exchange for sexual contact. Some of the sexual contact with at least one of the patients allegedly occurred during office visits. The matter is currently under investigation by the state's Department of Public Health, but in the meantime, the doctor's physician and surgeon license has been summarily suspended.

It can be enormously upsetting if you're a health care professional and learn that you've been accused of misconduct and are being investigated by your state's licensing agency. In cases where a summary suspension is issued even before a detailed investigation gets underway, it can mean immediately losing your ability to make a living until your misconduct case is resolved. If you are under investigation by your health care licensing agency, contact the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team for help at 888.535.3686 or by using our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.

The Allegations Against the Connecticut Doctor

The doctor is accused of more than simply trading medication prescriptions for sexual contact. He is also accused of violating the standard of care with respect to both of the two patients listed in the charges.

• Failing to “appropriately treat, assess, and/or examine” them;
• Failing to have “clinical justification” for prescribing controlled substances;
• Failing to order or review urine screen toxicology tests;
• Not maintaining appropriate medical records;
• Failing to “appropriately review the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System.”

The doctor is also accused of violating patient-health care provider boundaries a number of different ways; of accessing one of the patient's medical records more than 2500 times “without clinical justification;” and of causing the other patient to become “addicted to opiates to satisfy his sexual needs.”

The Department of Public Health issued a summary suspension in the case, meaning that the doctor was suspended even before the investigation of the allegations was complete. The DPH cited “affidavits, reports, and corroborating documents” alleging facts that caused the DPH to believe that “emergency action” was required because “the public health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of the State of Connecticut” was “in clear and immediate danger.” As a result, the doctor's license was suspended “pending a final determination by the Connecticut Medical Examining Board” concerning the allegations made against him.

The Lento Law Firm Can Help Protect Your License

If you've been accused of serious misconduct in connection with your health care license, you need the help of an experienced professional license defense attorney. The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team has helped doctors, nurses, dentists, and other licensed professionals defend themselves against misconduct allegations from state boards all across the country.

Our attorneys understand that there is often much more to the story than what is in the complaint received by your state's licensing board. We will help prepare you for the board investigation and can even conduct our own investigation when circumstances warrant one. We'll advocate on your behalf with the licensing board and can often negotiate favorable resolutions to misconduct cases for our clients. When necessary, we will be ready to defend you at a hearing and will fight for your rights throughout the entire process.

If you're facing a misconduct investigation or have been formally charged with misconduct by your licensing board, don't delay – call the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team today. We can be reached at 888.535.3686 or through our contact form. Our advice is the same as you'd give to one of your patients – don't wait to get help!