Top N.J. Surgeon Says He Snorted Cocaine, Had Long Drug History

A top surgeon in New Jersey has admitted to using cocaine, suffering a relapse after dealing with drug problems for more than a decade.

Vijay Vaswani has lost his state medical license after admitting to use of cocaine last month, according to an order issued by the State Board of Medical Examiners.

The doctor also said he obtained cocaine by writing prescriptions to three people who were not his patients.

Vaswani, a vice president of the medical staff for general and breast surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, lost his license indefinitely, the order states.

The doctor has been rated very highly, receiving five stars in one survey.

Vaswani, who signed the order on Dec. 23, admitted using cocaine on or about Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

Vaswani had a long drug use history, according to the order.

He admitted using cocaine and marijuana in college when he applied for his New Jersey medical license in 2001. While still in residency, the order states, Vaswani had undergone treatment for the abuse of Versed.

In 2006, Vaswani took Xanax and was involved in a motor-vehicle accident, and was charged with driving under the influence.

In December, Vaswani admitted to writing the Percocet prescriptions and using cocaine.

Vaswani received glowing reviews from patients as recently as this month, including one who said, “Dr. Vaswani exemplifies all that is good in a surgeon--compassionate, thorough, highly skilled, and most of all, empathetic and caring.”