East Brunswick Dr.'s License Suspended For Unsanitary Practices

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — An East Brunswick-based doctor temporarily lost his license this December after the state accused him of reusing single-use rectal catheters during testing.

Dr. Sanjiv K. Patankar, an East Brunswick practitioner, allegedly washed and reused the small, flexible catheters inserted into patients’ rectums during medical procedures, according to a complaint filed by the New Jersey Attorney General. The catheters are meant to be thrown away after a single use, but Patankar used them on at least five patients before discarding them because supplies for replacement catheters were on back order, the state alleges. Dr. Sanjiv Patankar is a colon and rectal surgery doctor who practices on Cranbury Road in East Brunswick.

The State Board of Medical Examiners temporarily suspended Dr. Patankar's license, they announced on Thursday.

Patankar allegedly instructed his medical assistants to wash the used catheters in soap and water, soak them in bleach solution for 30 minutes, and then rinse and let air dry. Once the catheters were dry, they were put back in their original packaging so they could be reused. Even when a catheter began breaking down from over-bleaching, Patankar ordered his medical assistant to continue using it, the state alleges.

Even though the packaging on the catheters specifically states “do not reuse,” Dr. Patankar reused them on multiple patients, the AG said.

After taking testimony and reviewing evidence during a hearing last week, the Board unanimously found that Patankar demonstrated a fundamental lack of judgment and placed patients in clear and imminent danger by reusing the catheters.

“It is appalling that a doctor would engage in such an unsanitary and dangerous practice,” said New Jersey Attorney General Chris Porrino. “Through his alleged conduct, Dr. Patankar has demonstrated a reckless disregard for public safety that placed countless patients at risk of communicable diseases.”

Patankar used the catheters on patients undergoing “anorectal manometry” testing in his office. An anorectal manometry is performed to evaluate patients with constipation, fecal incontinence, or other possible disorders that may involve the anorectal sphincter.

Evidence showed that although 82 anorectal procedures were performed in Patankar’s office between January 1 and November 30, 2017, there were only five catheters ordered during that period of time.

Patankar was given a 30-day wind-down period during which he can only practice in a hospital setting, and during which he must provide documentation to the Board that he is transferring his care to other physicians. The Committee further ordered that Patankar must provide the Board with a list of patients who underwent anal manometry testing from January 1, 2011 to the present.

Under the Committee’s order, Patankar’s license will remain temporarily suspended pending a full hearing in the Office of Administrative Law (“OAL”) on the allegations against him, and until the Board takes final action based on the OAL’s findings.

Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs.

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