Bergen Doctor Loses Job For Alleged Bad Behavior Amid Crackdown

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ – A Bergen County doctor is among those who lost their jobs for bad behavior over the last two months,joining a growing list of medical professionals who’ve run into trouble as the state continues to crack down on physicians who "recklessly disregarded their professional and ethical obligations," according to the Office of Attorney General.

The sanctions come a year after Attorney General Gurbir Grewal launched a new office to lead his statewide crackdown on reckless medical practices amid the worsening opioid crisis: the New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies, or NJ CARES.

Since then, the OAG has successfully petitioned the State Board of Medical Examiners to suspend or revoke the professional licenses of more than two dozen prescribers who have "recklessly disregarded their professional and ethical obligations, or subjected them to other professional discipline," the OAG said.

Eric Yahav, who has offices in Tenafly and Cherry Hill, indiscriminately prescribed CDS to six women who were not patients, according to the board. His license was suspended on Dec. 18 for two years.

Yahav is affiliated with multiple hospitals in New Jersey, including Englewood Hospital and Jefferson Health-Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township

A doctor from nearby Passaic County was also sanctioned:

• Marjorie Condon, who practiced in Bergen and Passaic counties, indiscriminately prescribed drugs, including pain management medication, according to the board. Her license was suspended for one year on Dec. 13.

Read More: 13 NJ Doctors Lose Jobs For Alleged Bad Behavior

Here are the other doctors suspended by the State Board of Medical Examiners, which oversees medical licenses, in November and December:

• Neil Kamal, an anesthesiologist, was engaged in "indiscriminate" prescribing of CDS, according to the board. He was arrested on Sept. 25 fo dispensing "goody bags" of drugs. His license was suspended on Dec. 18.
• Joseph Prober was not truthful when completing applications for hospital privileges, and he also engaged in multiple acts of medical negligence and incompetence, according to the board. His license was suspended on Dec. 12 for nine months.
• Mikhail Solomonov, 53, was arrested, charged and convicted of sexual assault. His license was temporarily suspended on Dec. 9. The Cedar Knolls doctor was found guilty of sexually assaulting his health assistant during their educational getaway in Colorado, according to The Trentonian.
• Alan Kelsey lost his license and was told to cease and desist from all patient contact; it's not clear why. His license was revoked on Nov. 29.
• James Darren, a podiatrist, was supposed to fulfill a skills assessment. He said he was dealing with an unexpected serious medical issue, but his failure to comply led to his license being suspended on Nov. 22.
• Jagdish Chugh was arrested on July 30 for allegedly having sexual contact with two children. He temporarily surrendered his license on Nov. 6 pending the outcome of the case. The Long Valley resident was arrested and charged with three counts of having sexual contact with the children. The doctor was accused of touching part of one victim's body without consent and had sexual contact with a second victim. All of the examinations took place at the Pediatric & Adolescent Medical Center in Hackettstown, according to the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.
• Raymond Hendel let his license lapse as his plastic surgery practice was being investigated, according to the board. His license was suspended on Nov. 1.
• Amir Shariati was licensed to practice medicine and surgery but he let it lapse, according to the board. He was fined $2,500 in connection with his alleged treatment of a patient. His license was suspended on Nov. 1.
• Larry Shemen let his license lapse and was fined $7,500. He failed to retain a patient record for at least six years, according to the board. His license was suspended on Nov. 1.
• Arpad Szallasi let his license lapse and his license was suspended on Nov. 1.