The Arkansas State Medical Board voted to delay action in the case of a physician seeking to return to practice after being accused of rape and sexual assault until after his charges are heard in court, effectively denying his request, the Arkansas Advocate reported Dec. 5.
Sudesh Banaji, MD, an internal medicine physician in Forrest City, Ark., was arrested in August on six felony counts of second-degree sexual assault and one felony count of rape. His medical license was revoked following his arrest in September, when the state board also launched an investigation into the allegations. The physician has also been sued by a former employee for sexual harassment.
His attorney asked the board to allow Dr. Banaji to return to practice with restrictions, such as seeing only male patients or practicing telemedicine, but did not otherwise come prepared with "concrete proposals" about what restrictions the board should implement in his practice, according to the Advocate.
Dr. Banaji practiced at Internal Medicine of Forrest City and had hospital privileges at Forrest City Medical Center. He pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges in October, and a trial will take place in January.