NEWARK— The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners has temporarily suspended the license of a Bergen County doctor who allegedly harassed and attempted to intimidate an elderly patient after she reported that he requested a loan from her, Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced.

Division of Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos said the Board's decision followed a hearing Wednesday in Trenton, during which the Board found Dr. Manjit Singh of Ramsey represented a "clear and imminent danger to the public's health, safety and, more importantly, welfare..." The action arose from an administrative complaint filed by the State alleging that Singh attempted to borrow $10,000 from a longtime patient.

Specifically, the State, alleges that Singh called the patient, a widow, to his office on Saturday, Oct. 2, when the office was closed to ask her for a $10,000 loan. When she hesitated, Singh asked for $3,000 or $4,000 instead. The patient told him she'd think about it, but after consulting relatives, decided against it. After Singh came to her home to renew his request, the State's complaint alleges, she switched to another practice and told her new physician that Singh tried to borrow money from her.

After being summoned by the Valley Hospital, where he has privileges, to explain the situation involving the patient, Singh again went uninvited to the woman's home demanding to know whom she had told about his loan request, the complaint alleges. When he learned that the patient had told her new physician and, soon afterward, the Attorney General's office, Singh allegedly embarked on a campaign to harass and intimidate the patient. The Board, in rendering its decision, found that Singh repeatedly called and visited her home to demand that she change her story, engaging in disruptive conduct at her home that led to intervention by the police.

The Board noted that Singh's conduct involving the patient repeated a prior pattern of misconduct and that Dr. Singh had kept this matter secret even from his family and from his mentors in Gamblers Anonymous.

This is not the first time Singh has run afoul of Board rules. In 1997, Singh pled no contest to allegations by the State that he borrowed nearly $1 million from at least 98 of his patients. Under the terms of an order filed in May 1997, Singh's medical license was suspended for a minimum of five years and he was required to reimburse defrauded patients. In addition, he was ordered to pay penalties and costs totaling $12,000. When he seemed to demonstrate rehabilitation, he was allowed to resume his practice of medicine in 1997. However, while most of the restrictions on his license were gradually removed, he was still responsible for reimbursing patients, paying penalties and prohibited from engaging in any financial transactions whatsoever with any past or current patient.

"Dr. Singh's alleged attempts to borrow money from a patient and to intimidate and harass the patient show that he is not capable of carrying out his duties in a professional and lawful manner," Attorney General Harvey said. "We are satisfied with the Board's decision."

"This doctor appears to be a repeat offender who continues to show a lack of regard for the laws that govern his practice," Director Erdos said. "He has squandered the goodwill of the board after it gave him a second chance at practicing medicine. We will move forward in our attempt to revoke Dr. Singh's license."

The matter will be referred to the Office of Administrative Law for a full hearing on the State's complaint. Deputy Attorney General Joan Gelber is representing the State.

Any patient with additional information concerning Dr. Singh's alleged unlawful activities may contact the Board at 609-826-7100.

In another matter, the Board ratified a committee decision that temporarily suspended the license of Montclair physician Matthew Ponzio, whose alleged gross malpractice and negligence put the lives of six of his patients at serious risk. Deputy Attorney General Kevin Jespersen represented the State.

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