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NEWARK
– The State Board of Medical Examiners
has temporarily suspended the licenses of
three North Jersey physicians after each
was arrested and criminally charged by law
enforcement agencies in three separate and
unrelated cases.
The
physicians agreed to the temporary license
suspensions in lieu of formal disciplinary
hearings before the Board. The suspensions
remain in effect pending further action
of the Board.
“These
physicians could not be permitted to continue
to practice medicine and interact with patients,
given the serious nature of the charges
pending against them,” Attorney General
Paula T. Dow said. “The Board has
acted to ensure the public’s safety.”
Demesvar
A. Jean-Baptiste, 38, of Watchung, was charged
last month with burglary, making terroristic
threats, and aggravated assault. He also
failed to comply with an April 2011 Consent
Order with the Board that allowed him to
remain in practice – subject to monitoring
and other conditions – while he was
entered into the Professional Assistance
Program. The Board and Dr. Jean-Baptiste
yesterday agreed to a license suspension,
effective on September 23.
Eugene
Demczuk, 66, of Livingston, was charged
last month with conspiracy to distribute
Oxycodone and distribution of Oxycodone
without a legitimate medical purpose. His
license suspension began on September 8.
Priscilla
G. Ilem, 84, of Wayne, was charged last
month with issuing prescriptions for a Controlled
Dangerous Substance (Oxycodone) without
a legitimate purpose. Her license suspension
began on September 8.
“The
abuse of prescription pain killers is a
national epidemic, and the medical professionals
we license put their careers at risk by
abetting the illegal flow of these potent
and potentially life-threatening drugs into
our neighborhoods,” said Thomas R.
Calcagni, Director of the State Division
of Consumer Affairs. “The public places
the highest level of trust in medical professionals
to oversee the well-being of our families
and communities. The crimes committed by
these three physicians, if proven true,
violated that trust.”
Deputy
Attorneys General Doreen A. Hafner and David
M. Puteska, Assistant Section Chiefs of
the Professional Boards Prosecution Section,
and Deputy Attorney General Kim D. Ringler
are representing the Division in these cases.
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