Nassau Doctor Accused Of Strangling Nurse Gets Charges Dropped

EAST MEADOW, NY— A Nassau University Medical Center doctor who was accused of strangling a nurse was exonerated of all the charges against him at the request of the District Attorney's office, citing a lack of evidence against the doctor.

Venkatesh Sasthakonar, a weight loss surgeon at NUMC in East Meadow, was arrested on Jan. 22 and charged with attacking an unnamed nurse, authorities say. At the time of his arrest, police said he came up from behind her and wrapped a plastic cord around his neck to strangle her. Police said it followed an argument the two had over treating a patient.

"Dr. Sasthakonar has maintained his innocence from the moment he was wrongly arrested," the law firm representing Sasthakonar, the Garden City-based Barket Marion Epstein & Kearon, LLP, said in a statement. "The charges were fabricated by a nurse that he was reprimanding for engaging in a serious breach of pre-surgical hospital protocols."

Sasthakonar was suspended from his position at NUMC after his arrest. His lawyer said the hospital board is meeting today to discuss it, and he expects Sasthakonar to be reinstated shortly.

The Nassau County Police Department released a statement regarding Sasthakonar's original arrest.

"Police officers responded to Nassau University Medical Center for an assault assignment," Det. Michael Bitsko said in the statement. "The victim, who was being treated for injuries, stated they occurred as a result of a confrontation with the defendant. Based on this sworn statement, as well as medical records, probable cause existed to effect the arrest of the defendant and he was placed into custody. Due to HIPPA regulations there are no video surveillance cameras in this area of the hospital, therefore, there is no video surveillance of the incident.

According to Newsday, a group of supporters were waiting outside of the courtroom to congratulate Sasthakonar after his exoneration. They were made up of fellow doctors and some of his patients.

"[Sasthakonar] is thrilled to have his complete exoneration made at the request of the District Attorney’s office a mere three weeks after charges were brought," his law firm said in its statement. "Dr. Sasthakonar is grateful for the diligent investigation conducted by the District Attorney’s office, who ultimately agreed that no crime was committed and that charges should have never been brought. He would also like to thank his colleagues and the board at NUMC for their support and for their anticipated decision to reinstate him immediately upon dismissal of the charges."

Photo: Courtesy Nassau University Medical Center