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NEWARK
– Two physicians who were facing disciplinary
hearings before a licensing board within
the State Division of Consumer Affairs following
their recent arrests instead agreed to voluntarily
surrender their licenses and cease practice
while the criminal charges are pending.
Dr.
Michael Chung Kay Lam, 44, who had an office
in Fort Lee, on December 21, 2010 was arrested
and charged with four counts of distributing
a Controlled Dangerous Substance and one
count of money laundering. The BME yesterday
agreed to an Interim Consent Order with
Lam. His voluntary surrender is deemed to
be a temporary license suspension that will
remain in effect pending further Board action.
Dr.
Rocco Martino, 42, who had an office in
Millburn, on December 29, 2010 was arrested
and charged with knowingly possessing and
knowingly accessing, with the intent to
view, child pornography. Martino’s
surrender of his medical license on Tuesday
is deemed to be a temporary suspension,
which remains in effect until further action
by the BME under terms of the Interim Consent
Order between Martino and the Board.
“Our
licensing Boards are prepared to act when
licensees pose an imminent danger to the
public’s health, safety and welfare.
If these two physicians had not agreed to
surrender their licenses, the Board of Medical
Examiners was ready to convene hearings
to consider ordering their licenses to be
temporarily suspended,” Attorney General
Paula T. Dow said.
“These
physicians could not be allowed to continue
to see patients, based on the serious criminal
charges pending against them,” said
Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director of the
State Division of Consumer Affairs.
Deputy
Attorney General Doreen A. Hafner is representing
the state in the Martino case, while DAG
David M. Puteska is handling the Lam case.
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