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NEWARK-
Attorney General Anne Milgram and Consumer
Affairs Director David Szuchman announced
today that the State Acupuncture Examining
Board has found that the unrestricted practice
of acupuncturist Young Lee constitutes a
clear and imminent danger to the public
and restricted his ability to see female
patients. Lee cannot see female patients
without a Board-approved chaperone being
present.
The
action came after a five-hour hearing yesterday
before the Board at its regularly scheduled
monthly meeting.
“Our
licensing boards are disciplinary bodies
and the investigation of complaints submitted
by consumers is a priority,” Attorney
General Anne Milgram said. “As in
this matter, our boards will act to protect
the public’s health and well-being
when the facts presented support such action.”
A
complaint filed by the Attorney General
asked the Board to temporarily suspend Young
K. Lee’s acupuncture license for engaging
in sexual misconduct. The complaint alleged
that Lee, who is a certified acupuncturist
at Body Concepts Wellness Institute in East
Rutherford, New Jersey, sexually molested
a patient while providing her with acupuncture
treatment. The complaint further alleged
that Lee inappropriately touched/fondled
the victim and also made sexual comments
to her.
“Consumers
should not hesitate to come forward and
contact the Division whenever they believe
a licensee has violated professional standards
or committed improper actions,” Director
Szuchman said. “We licensee nearly
500,000 individuals through our boards and
each licensee is held accountable.”
The
State Acupuncture Examining Board held a
formal hearing to consider the Attorney
General’s application for interim
sanctions pending a final hearing and determination
by the Board.
Victim
A.M. testified for over an hour before the
Board and explained to the Board how she
came to be Lee’s client. A.M. sought
Lee’s care to deal with swelling in
her legs and low energy. A.M. testified
that Lee allegedly engaged in sexually inappropriate
conduct. The alleged conduct included Lee
removing his pants and asking A.M. to touch
his penis.
Lee
denied all the charges and testified at
the hearing that all he did was treat A.M.
with acupressure.
The
Board found A.M.’s testimony more
credible than Lee’s and thus concluded
that his unrestricted practice is a clear
and imminent danger to the public. Based
on that finding, the Board ordered that
Lee must have a Board-approved chaperone
(who also must be an acupuncturist) present
when Lee sees any female patient. Additionally,
Lee was ordered to undergo a psychosexual
evaluation.
This
matter will now be transmitted to the Office
of Administrative Law for a full hearing
on the charges, while the interim restrictions
remain in place.
Deputy
Attorneys General Jeri Warhaftig and Bindi
Merchant filed the state’s complaint
and presented the case before the Board.
Consumers
can file complaints with the Division of
Consumer Affairs online at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
or by calling 800-242-5846
(within N.J.) or 973-504-6200.
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