The medical license of an Indian American doctor Sanjiv Patankar has been suspended temporarily for allegedly reusing single-use catheters into multiple patient’s rectums.
NJ.com reported that Patankar, an East Brunswick-based colon and rectal surgeon, allegedly washed and inserted disposable one-use anal catheters on multiple patients during medical procedures.
The state Board of Medical Examiners suspended his license last week saying he “placed patients in clear and imminent danger.”
According to the state officials, Patankar’s office ordered only five catheters between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, whereas he performed 82 procedures in the same period.
“The catheters are meant to be thrown away after a single use, but Patankar used them on at least five patients before discarding them because supplies for replacement catheters were on backorder,” said a statement issued by the office of the Attorney General.
The decision to suspend his license was taken by the medical board after considering the hearing and the documental evidence submitted to validate the allegation.
“It is appalling that a doctor would engage in such an unsanitary and dangerous practice,” Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in the statement.
“Through his alleged conduct, Dr. Patankar has demonstrated a reckless disregard for public safety that placed countless patients at risk of communicable diseases,” he added.
Anal catheters are used to insert into a patients rectum for various purposes including inserting fluids or gathering fecal matter for testing.
“Dr. Patankar’s alleged conduct not only violates professional standards, it reveals an alarming lack of judgment that calls into question his fitness to practice,” said Sharon Joyce, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.
“By temporarily suspending his license, the board fulfilled its duty to protect the public from this practitioner while these very disturbing allegations are pending,” added Joyce.
Patankar’s license will remain temporarily suspended pending a full hearing in the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on the allegations against him, and until the Board takes final action based on the OAL’s findings.
1 Comment
50% of Indians poop outside in bushes. The basic idea of sanitation is not clear to the Indian person.