Doctor's License Revoked After 20-Year-Old Dies At Overlook Medical Center

SUMMIT, NJ — An Emergency Room Doctor's license was revoked after a 20-year-old patient died of respiratory arrest in Overlook Medical Center's emergency room in 2017, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced Thursday.

Shar Kennett, an emergency medicine specialist in Wayne, agreed to the State Board of Medical Examiners' permanent revocation of her license to "resolve allegations she engaged in gross negligence, gross malpractice, and gross incompetence which damaged the life, health, and welfare of a 20-year-old patient who died of respiratory arrest in the medical center’s emergency room."

The Board became aware of the incident when the patient's mother filed a complaint against the physician in 2022.

According to the allegations against her, Kennett was on duty in the emergency room in Summit on June 29, 2017, when the young man, identified in Board documents as "Patient 1," was brought in due to respiratory distress. His condition was labeled as urgent.

Kennett allegedly failed to examine Patient 1 and did not order any diagnostic testing, despite his parents' urgent requests for assistance. Patient 1 died that night, said Platkin.

In March 2023 during an appearance before a Board evaluation committee, Kennett denied that she had failed to examine Patient 1 and testified that she saw Patient 1 twice that night.

Kennett said that she did not have any communication with Patient 1's parents or any emergency room staff following her examination and that she documented her evaluation hours later after Patient 1 had died, according to Platkin.

Kennett also claimed to have been under the impression that she had ordered diagnostic tests, she later acknowledged that this impression was mistaken and that she failed to order any diagnostic testing, said Platkin.

"This is a heartbreaking case involving the death of a young man under circumstances that should never occur in a New Jersey emergency room," said Platkin. "As we extend our sympathies to this young man’s family, we are ensuring appropriate action is taken to hold this physician accountable and prevent this from ever happening again."

"The alleged conduct of this physician demonstrates an appalling lack of professionalism and good judgement that pose a grave risk to those in her care," said Cari Fais, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. "I thank the Board for fulfilling its duty to protect the public by ensuring she will never again practice medicine in New Jersey."

In addition to the allegations of gross negligence, malpractice, and incompetence, the Board also found that Kennett engaged in dishonesty, fraud, or deception when she falsely documented she had evaluated Patient 1 in a timely manner.

To resolve the allegations, Kennett entered into a consent order with the Board in which she agreed to retire her license to practice as a physician in New Jersey, with the retirement to be deemed a permanent revocation. The revocation is with prejudice, meaning Kennett is barred from applying for a license to practice medicine in New Jersey at any time in the future.

Additionally, under the terms of the final consent order, which was filed by the Board on March 27, 2024, Kennett is prohibited from charging, receiving, or sharing in any fee for professional services rendered by others in this state and is precluded from managing, overseeing, supervising, or influencing the practice of medicine or the provision of healthcare activities here, including testifying as an expert witness or serving as an expert consultant.

Overlook Medical Center did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

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.

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