New Jersey State Board Of Medical Examiners In The Matter .

FILEDJanuary- 6,2004NEW J RS Y STATE BOARDOF MEDIC& EXAMINERSPETER C . HARVEYATTORNEY GENE OF NEW JERSEYDivision of Law - 5th F l o o r1 2 4 Halsey S t r e e tP.O. Box 4 5 0 2 9Newark, New J e r s e y 07101NEW JERSEY STATE BOARC)OF MEDICAL EXAMINER STATE OF NEW JERSEYDEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETYDIVISION OF CONSUMER AFFAIRSSTATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXRVINERSDOCKET NO.: BDSME 09434-2002NIN THE MRTTER OF THE SUSPENSIONOR REVOCATION OF THE LICENSE OF:))Admi nistrative Action1Michael G. Ashkar, M.D.License No. MA 43615)1TO PRACTICE MEDICINE 6 SURGERYIN THE STATE OF NEW J E R S E YCONSENT ORDER-.--)IT h i s matter was opened to t h e N e w Jersey State Board ofMedical Examiners ( h e s e i n a f t e r t h e “Board”) by way of VerifiedAdministrative Compiaint filed on June 28, 2002, by David mpanyingdocuments sought emergent relief by way of temporary 45:1-22,N.J.S.A.againstMichael( h e r e i n a f t e r “Respondent“) alleging,N.J.A.C. 13:35-7.2(a), N . J . S . A .G.andrequestedAshkar,M.D.inter al i a , violations-of4 5 9 - 6a n d N.Z.S.A.45:1-21(b),--

( d ) , ( h ) and ( i ).(c),Respondent has d e n i e d t h e allegations oft h e Complaint rendering t h e matter a contested c a s e a s d e f i n e d byN.3.S.A. 52r14b-1, et. seq.Following a h e a r i n g on t h e Attorney General's applicationf o r emergentrelief,Suspension on July 1 7 ,engagingin t h eplenary hearing.theOfficeOfBoardthe2002,practicee n t e r e d a n Order of Temporarywhich r e s t r i c t e d Respondentof medicineandsurgeryfrompendingaT h e r e a f t e r , t h e Board transmitted t h e matter toAdministrative Law f o rhearing.a plenaryhearing was scheduled to commence on November 13, 2 0 0 3 istrative Law i n Quakerbridge, N e w J e r s e y .2003,the AttorneyOfficeofOn August18,theGeneral filed a notion f o r P a r t i a l SummaryDecision which was d e c i d e d by t h e Honorable Joseph F. F i d l e r ,on November 1 2 ,A.L.J.genuinelydisputed2003factsandconcluded that there were noas to C o u n t sI, I1 andVerified Complaint of as to violations of N . J . R , C .N.J.A.C.13:35-7.2(a)Respondent,111 ofthe?3:35-6(b),and N.J.A.C. 13:35-?.6(a) -beingdesirous of r e s o l v i n g t h e w i t h i n matterwithout formal p r o c e e d i n g s , and the Board finding t h a t Respondentengaged in c o n d u c t violative of t h e aforementioned statutes a n dregulationsa n d t h e within O r d e r adequately p r o t e c t i v epublic health,safetyand w e l f a r e ,- 2 -fortheof t h ereasons expressed

h e r e i n and o t h e r good cause h a v i n g been shown, it is, thereforeon this 13th d a y of, 2003NovemberORDERED AND AGREED THAT:1.M.D.Thelicense i s s u e d to Respondent,Michael G. A s h k a r ,is hereby suspended f o r a p e r i o d of five y e a r s , retroactiveto t h e date of July 1 7 ,2002. Said suspension s h a l l be a c t i v e l yserved for a p e r i o d of two years with the remaining t h r e e y e a r sto be served as a period of p r o b a t i o n .2.Respondent shall enroll in and s u c c e s s f u l l y complete anethics course approved by the New J e r s e y State Board O F MedicalExaminers within one year of t h e d a t e of e n t r y of this O r d e r .Successful completion means that all sessions were attended, a l lassignments wereproperlyandappropriatelycompletedandap a s s i n g grade wa3 achieved which w a s unconditional and w i t h o u treservation 3.Respondent shall e n r o l l i n and s u c c e s s f u l l y complete arecord keeping c o u r s e approved by t h e New Jersey State Board ofNedical Examiners w i t h i n one year of t h e d a t e of e n t r y of t h i nditional a n d without reservation.4.Respondentshallparticipate- 3 -inindividualtherapy

p u r s u a n t to recommendations made by t h e J . J . Peters Institute.5.RespondentshallcontinuePhysician's Health Program ("PHP")6.tobebythe.Respondent s h a l l e n s u r e that the PHP p r o v i d e q u a r t e r l yr e p o r t s to the Board regarding Respondent's7.monitoredprogress.Respondent is assessed an aggregate civil penalty offor the o f f e n s e s s e t f o r t h in Counts 1 t h r o u g h IV a n d 20,000.00costs in t h eamountinvestigativecostsof 7 , 2 7 6 . 0 0and 1,8O0.00consistingof 5,476.00in e x p e r tfe-es. Respondentinshall p a y to the Board a t t o r n e y fees pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4 5 : l ".-2 5 ( d ) in t h e amount of 34,524.00.Board O f f i c e ,Orderrndregar ing1 4 0 East F r o n t Street, P . O .7STatt - n e yBOXb e r m - e d th#oees,xpery- 4 -fee/'and183, T r e n t o n ,NJ,

Nov-14-200304:39pmFrom- DIV OF LAWf-760201- 648- 7462P OCEi'017F-BC7of atrorney fees due and owing, then towards satisfaction ofcosts due and owing, a n d then towards satisfaction of assessedpenalties-10.I n t e r e s t s h a l l accrue in a c c o r d a x e wi-ch Rule 4:42-11.All payments s h a l l be made by c e r t i f i e d c h e c k o r money orderpayable to the S t a t e of New J e r s e y .11.withinIn the event thz:Eive( 5 ) dzysofa monthly i n s t a l l m e n 7 Fs n o t receivedtheduedate,theentireofcivilpenalties, COS: and fees shall become due and owing.12.TorRespondentphysicianswhos h a l l comcly with t h e a t t a c h e d re h a s been accepeed by r A e Board, which a r e i n c o r p o r a t e dherein by reference.NZW JE?SEY SYATE BQARD OFMEDICAL ZXAMINERS -201 E49 7462PPE.Ba

I have read and understoodt h e within order a n d a g r e eto b e b o u n d by i t s terms.Consent is hereby g i v e n t ot h e Board to enter t h i s Order.Consented to as to form:,nBy :- 6 -

I'.-I.- .//-.,."-.I-.I./r. .-I /.--a--

.Nou-14-200304:4Qprn701-648-1462OF LAWFrom-DIVPETER C . HARVEYATTOELVEY GENERAL O F NEW JERSEYDivision of Law-gfh Flcor124 Halsey StreetP . O . Box 4 5 0 2 9Newark, New Jersey 07101STATE OF NEW JERSEYBZPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETYDIVISION OF CONSUME3 AFFAIRSSTATE BOARD -OF MECICAL, EXAMINZXD O C m T No.: 33SME 04434-2002NIN THZ YATT'ER OF THE SVSPENSLONOR REVOCATION OF THS LICENSE OF:Adnicistrative ActionMichael G, Ashkar, M . D .License No. MA 43615CONSEN? ORDERTU PRACTICE M E D I C I N E & SURGERYTN THE STATE OF NEW JEKSEYThis matter was opened to r h e New J e r s e y State Bead ofMedical Examiners(hereinafter t h e "Board") byof VerifiedwayAdministxative Camplaint f i l e d on June 28, 2002, by D a v l d aring.NewAdrianaE.The Complain:Baudry,andDeputyaccor,panyingdocuments sought emergent r e l - e 5 by way of temporary s u s p e n s i o gainst45:i-22,Michael( h e r e i n a f t e r "Respondent") a l l e g i r - g ,G.requestedandAshkar,M,D.ir-ter alia, violationsofN.J.A.C. 13:35-6.3, N.J.A.C. 1 3 : 3 5 - 6 . 5 { b ) , N.J.A.C. 1 3 3 5 - 7 . 6N.J.A.C.13:35-7,2(a),N-J.S.A.45:9-6and N.J.S.A.4511-212E? 649 7462PRGC. 11

Nov-14-2003( c ) , ( c ]IIh) and (i)-P 012/DlfT-ICU2 0 1-648-7462From- PIV OF LAW04:40pmRespondent has denied t h e allegationsthe Complaint r e n d e r i n g :heCI matter a contested case as d e f i n e 5 byN.J.S.A. 52:1Zb-1, et. seq.on the Attorney General'sFollowing a he2rir.gf o r emergent relief, t h e Board ectered an OrderS u s p e c s i o n on July 1'7, 2002,engagingin the p r a c t i c eplenary hearing.whichofapplicztior.3fT@mporaryrestricred Respondentmedicinefromanc: surgery p e n d i n g aT h e r e a f I e r , t h e Board t r m s m i t t e d t h e matter tothe Office 3 2 A d n h i s t r z ' t i v e Law f o r a plenary h e a r i n g ,kearin5 was schedJLed t o comvence on Novenber 13, 2003,Abefore inlstrztive Law i n Q u a k e r b r i d g e , New Jersey. On A u g u s t 18,2003,t h e AtTorneyGeneral filed a motion Sor P a r t i a l SumnaryDecision which was decided by che Honorzble Joseph F. F i d l e r ,A.L.J.02Noverber :2,G e n u i n e l y disputed2003 and concluded that t h e r e were r,of z c r s asLOCountsI, I 1 2nd I11 ofVerified Compleint o r as to violations c?f K.G.A.C.W.J.A.C. 13:35-7.2(a)Respocdezt,anc! N . J . A . C .the13:35-6(b),13:35-7.6tz}.beir.9 uesiroQs of resolving t h e w i t h i n marterwithout fcrrnal proceedings, and t h e Boarc! f i c d i n g t h z t Respondentengaged ir, c o n d u c t v i o l a t i v e of t h e aforementioned s t a t u z e s 2ndr e g u l a t i o n s and t h e w i t h i n Order aaequately protective of t h epcblic h e a l t h ,s a f e t y and welfare,for tF.ereasonsexpressed- 2 -PRGE. 12

Nov-14-200304:40 mFrom-DIV OF LAWherein and other good czuse h a v i n g been shown, it is, t h e r e f o r eon this 13Y1 day of November, 2003ORDERED AVD AGRSED THAT:1.M.D.T3elicense issued to Respondent, Yichael G . Ashkar,is hereby suspended f o r a period of five years, retroactivet o t h e d a t e of J u l y 1'7, 2002.S a i d suspension s h a l l be activelyse-Ted f o r 2 2 e r i o d of t w o years w i t h the remaining three y e a r st o be serveu as a periodRespondent s h a l l e n r o l l in a n a successfully cornplete an2-ethicsof probation.COUZS approver! by r h e N e w Jersey S t a t e Boaid of MedicalExaminers w i t h i n o r e y e a r of tfie date 05 m z r y of c h i s Order.SGccessful complerion nears t h a t a l l s e s s i m s w e r e a t t e n d e d andapassing grade w a s achieved w h i c h was u c c o n d i t i o n a l a n d w i t h o u treservation.3.Respandent s h a l l e n r o l l in and scccessfully complete ar e c o r d k e e p i n g ccurse approved by the New J e r s e y S t a t e Board ofMedical Exarr,iners w i r h i n one year cf the date of e n t r y of Gradewassessionsachievedwereappropriatelywhichwasu n c o n d i t i o n a l a n d w i t h o u t reservation.4.Respor-den:shallparticipate inindividuzl t h e r a p y- 3 -N2U Id 2PT3201 648 7462PAGE. 13

Nov-14-2003From- BIV01:41pmP.OIUO171-76320 1-649-7462OF LAWFEE7pursuar-t to recorrmendetions maae by the J.3. P e t e r s I n s t i t u t e n‘s Bezlth Program (“PHP”) .iiespondent shall ensure thet t h e PBP provide q u a r r e r l y6.reportsto t h e Borne regarding Xespondent‘s progress.Respondent i s assessed an a g g r e g a t e civil penalty of7. 23,000.OUcostsf o r t h e offenses s e t f o r t h in C o u n t s I t h r o u g h fV endin t h eamoun-, of 7,276.00investiqztive c o s t sandc o n s i s t i n g of 5 5 , 4 7 6 . 0 0 1,600.00 in e x p e r tfees.Respondents h a l l pay to the 3oard a t t o r n e y fees pcrsuant to N.J.S.A.25 ( d )in45:l-in the m o u n t of 3 4 , 5 2 4 . O O .8.All f o r m of costs 2nd penalties t o t z l i r 4 6 1 , 8 0 0 . 0 0 ,shall be p a i d a s s e t f o r t h in Schedule A, a t t a c h e d h e r e t o a t t h eBoard Office, 140 Ezst F r o n t S t r e e t , P . O .09625,NJ,A Certificate o f Dabt f o z t h e above ainoun’k s h a l l be f i l e c !pzrsuant: to N.Z.S.A.the9ox 183, T r e n t o n ,approvalof45:i-24.rh e 3oarciSaid schedule s h a l l be s u b j e c t tofollowing receigt of a financialsyatemenc in t h e form a t t a c h e d ,t h r e e years,and t a xreLurnsf o r t h e pas’,t o be submitted w i t h i n 13 days o f the d a t e of thisOrder.9.X azdtowardsthentowardsthentowards- 4 -PQGE. 14

NOV-14-2003201- 648- 7462From-PIV OF LAWO4:4lpIs a t i s f a c t i o n 02 zssessed penalties.10.I n t e r e s t s h a l l bccrue in accordance ' w i t h R u l e 4:42-11.AL1 paymentsmcney o r a e rs h a l l be made by certified checkp a y a b l e to t h e S t a t e of New Jersey.11.withinIn t h e event t h a tfive( 5 ) daysaf2monthly installment is n o t r e c e i v e dthe duedate,thee n t i r e of civilg e x l t i e s , c o s t s 2nd fees shall 5ezcme due and owing.12.fcrRespondentPhysicimswhcshallarecomply with the atrached Directivesdisciplinedorwhosesurrender oflicer-sure h a s been accepted by the Bozrd, which are incorporated -:h e r e i n by r e f e r e n c e .N3:W X R S Z Y STATE 3OARD OFMEDICAL EXAKINERSBy:G L J N N A. FARREX, ESQ.VICE-PRZSIDENT- 5 -NDU 14 200315:56201 646 7462PGGE. 15