2 N.J. Doctors Accused of Sexual Misconduct With Combined 6 Female Patients: AG

Two New Jersey doctors have lost their licenses because of allegations of sexual misconduct with at least six women patients, according to state officials.

Some of these allegations include inappropriately touching a woman's breast and biting a woman's cheek.

Dr. Raja K. Jagtiani, an internist, has given up his license while also pleading guilty to criminal sexual contact involving five patients and three female employees, according to a press release from Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Division of Consumer Affairs. Here is a photo of Jagtiani:

A woman who worked at Jagtiani’s office told the Bergenfield police that Jagtiani touched one of her breasts and bit her cheek while they were working July 25, 2015, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Dr. Jadan H. Abbassi, an anesthesiologist in Clifton, also has surrendered his license, agreeing to settle allegations he engaged in inappropriate behavior with a patient that violated the state Board of Medical Examiners' sexual misconduct regulations. Abbassi denies those allegations.

“Doctor-patient trust serves as the bedrock of the medical profession, and sexual exploitation of patients is the gravest imaginable violation of this trust,” Porrino said in the release. “We will continue to ensure that these licensed predators are weeded out of our medical community.”

In September 2015, the Board of Medical Examiners temporarily suspended Jagtiani’s license pending the outcome of criminal charges alleging that, between 2011 and 2015, he committed criminal sexual contact against five patients and three of his employees, according to the news release.

On Sept. 24, 2016, Jagtiani pleaded guilty in Bergen County Superior Court to one count of criminal sexual contact involving all eight victims. On that day, the Board of Medical Examiners permanently revoked Jagtiani’s license, finding he engaged in “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,” according to the release.

Jagtiani is barred from applying for a license reinstatement for 10 years. Prior to the granting of any application, Jagtiani must appear before a committee to demonstrate his fitness to resume practice and demonstrate he has completed an educational course on professional boundaries and undergone competency and psychosexual evaluations, according to the release.

The state reserves the right to set conditions or limits on his medical license, if it is reinstated. Jagtiani must also pay a $20,000 civil penalty and reimburse the state $4,343 for investigation costs prior to any license reinstatement.

Abbassi allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature with a patient during the first six months of 2015. That alleged conduct, if proven, would constitute violations of the Board of Medical Examiners' sexual misconduct regulation; gross or repeated malpractice; and professional misconduct that would support a license suspension or revocation, according to the release.

Abbassi denies he engaged in such behavior but agreed to settle the allegations without the institution of a formal disciplinary proceeding.

Under a consent order filed on Oct. 7, Abbassi agrees to retire from medical practice and to give up his license in a voluntary surrender to be deemed a revocation. That revocation is effective Nov. 1.

Effective immediately, he may not accept any new patients into his practice and must treat all current female patients only in presence of a state-approved chaperone. Effective immediately, Abbassi’s authority to prescribe controlled dangerous substances in New Jersey is permanently revoked.

These investigations were conducted by the Enforcement Bureau of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.

Photos: Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Google Earth: Jagtiani's office