After Patient's Death, Wayne ER Doctor Permanently Loses License: AG

WAYNE, NJ — A Wayne physician will have her license permanently revoked after the death of 20-year-old patient in her care six years ago, said the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

Shar Kennett, an emergency medicine specialist from Wayne, agreed to the State Board of Medical Examiners' permanent revocation of her license, said AG Matthew Platkin on Thursday.

Officials said this action was to "resolve allegations she engaged in gross negligence, gross malpractice, and gross incompetence which damaged the life, health, and welfare" of the young man, who died of respiratory arrest in the emergency room at Overlook Medical Center in Summit.

The Board became aware of the incident when the patient's mother filed a complaint against Kennett in 2022. Patch has reached out to Overlook Medical Center and to Kennett's counsel for comment.

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

Officials alleged that Kennett failed to examine Patient 1 and did not order any diagnostic testing, despite his parents' urgent requests for assistance. He died later 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 of Medical Examiners 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.

Patch's Alexis Tarrazi contributed to this report.