When we visit a doctor, whether for a routine check-up or a life-saving procedure — we place our lives in their hands. Our health is paramount, and we rely on skilled physicians to provide competent care. That trust makes it essential that every patient have confidence in the medical professionals who treat them.

That trust must be earned and protected, and strong safeguards are necessary to shield patients from misconduct. Yet recent reporting revealed that some physicians on Long Island were allowed to practice for months — even years — despite criminal convictions or allegations of fraud, sexual abuse and gross incompetence.

These cases highlight a troubling pattern: doctors accused or convicted of serious misconduct often continue practicing with little or no disciplinary action, leaving patients vulnerable.

Medical misconduct and delays in accountability remain persistent problems. Recently, Amir Sitafalwalla, a former physician from Manhasset, was sentenced to six years’ probation after sexually abusing patients at an urgent-care facility. Although he was terminated by his employer and reported to the Department of Health in 2021, he did not surrender his medical license until 2025 — nearly four years later. During that time, the department had opened an investigation, yet he was still able to seek other employment, allegedly concealing the existence of that investigation when applying for a new position.

The lack of clear standards at the Office of Professional Medical Conduct has left serious complaints unresolved, exposing patients to harm and undermining trust in the system. To address these issues, I authored a bill that would establish strong guidelines, enforce corrective action and increase transparency to strengthen accountability for physicians. By holding problematic doctors responsible, we can protect patients and ensure that everyone can seek care without fear of exploitation or harm.

The legislation would establish clear consequences for serious offenses. It would also strengthen accountability for violations patients encounter, such as discriminatory treatment, unnecessary delays in care or unprofessional conduct that undermines patient trust. Egregious violations, such as sexual misconduct, would carry mandatory license revocation and public disclosure, while cases involving fraud, gross incompetence or substance impairment would result in penalties including fines, suspension and retraining.

Other states, from Maine to Arizona, have established clear frameworks for penalties in cases of professional medical misconduct. Ohio’s experience demonstrates the impact of robust standards: After adopting disciplinary and fining guidelines in 2020, the state achieved a high rate of disciplinary actions against bad actors, keeping patients safe. In contrast, New York’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct does not detail the range of penalties or actions available for violations, leaving the system without consistent standards.

I have engaged with stakeholders, including members of the Nassau County and state medical societies, to discuss how the legislation would strengthen the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. Funded by physician licensing fees, the office’s budget has been stagnant for 20 years, with funds often diverted elsewhere, leaving investigations under-resourced. I plan to add provisions to the bill to ensure that those fees go directly to the office, allowing it to fully investigate complaints.

The bill would also restructure committees within the office to ensure that complaints are appropriately addressed. Its current board is composed of two-thirds physicians and one-third lay members. The legislation would adjust committee composition to increase lay representation, specifically including people with master’s or doctoral degrees in public health, bringing broader expertise and greater balance to the review process.

Additionally, the legislation would close gaps in how disciplinary histories are reviewed. Currently, there is no responsibility for any committee of professional conduct to investigate whether a licensee who practiced medicine in another state or jurisdiction ever faced disciplinary action.

Under the proposal, physicians undergoing disciplinary proceedings would be required to disclose any out-of-state medical licenses, and the committee would be required to review those records for any prior disciplinary action.

Finally, the bill would strengthen reporting and transparency by requiring medical facilities to provide patients with contact information for the Office of Professional Medical Conduct and by requiring penalties or actions against licensees to be posted online within 10 days of a final determination.

By setting clear standards for discipline and ensuring that patients know where to turn with concerns, this legislation would take meaningful steps to protect the public. Its reforms would help reaffirm the expectation that every New Yorker can rely on their doctor to provide safe, ethical and compassionate care.

First published in the LI Herald, January 19, 2026