Legal Juice
It is refreshing when someone steps up and admits that they did something bad. Of course, it could just mean that they knew they were going to get nailed anyway. In any event, it doesn’t erase what happened. This doctor did step up and admit to some serious charges. Now, if only the disciplinary board would do SOMETHING! As reported by myfoxtampabay.com:
Dr. Tulsibhai Pipalia admits he did something stupid inside his office back in the summer of 2010. He propositioned a patient for oral sex and then exposed himself.
Stupid? No, it’s way, way beyond stupid. More like criminal.
The patient went to police and the Tampa doctor was charged with exposure of a sexual organ. The charge was dismissed when Dr. Pipalia completed a pre-trial diversion program for first time offenders.
So what about some disciplinary action to try to make sure this never happens again?
Although the criminal charge was behind him, the Florida Department of Health launched its own investigation a short time later. The Administrative Complaint charged the doctor, who specializes in Internal medicine, with several counts of engaging in sexual misconduct with a patient.
But nearly four years later, the doctor still has not been disciplined by the state. Several settlement agreements have been drafted, and then rejected by either the doctor or The Florida Board of Medicine, which must approve any settlement.
Some Members of the board are concerned Dr. Pipalia is still seeing female patients, even with a chaperone in the room.
“This clearly rises to the level that he should never see a female patient, period,” said Dr. James Orr, who is member of Florida’s Board of Medicine.
“Dr. Pipalia is not a construction worker, said Dr. Magdalena Averhoff at a Board of Medicine meeting earlier this month near Orlando. “I think that you cannot equate sexual misconduct of a physician with sexual misconduct in other professions that doesn’t involve the intimacy required in medicine.”
Then do something about it! Especially in light of this …
The doctor’s license is still listed as clear and active with no discipline on file.
That’s just wrong. What about folks who actually look a doctor up before choosing one? You’ll find the source here.