CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended the physician and surgeon license of Santosh P. Kumari (a.k.a. Chand), M.D, of Fairview Heights. Daniel E. Bluthardt, Director of the Division of Professional Regulation signed the summary suspension order earlier this week. The department has the authority to issue a summary suspension when it feels the health and safety of the public may be in danger by the continued practice of a licensee.
Kumari (a.k.a. Chand) had her license disciplined in 2001 and was practicing medicine under strict supervision by another physician. After receiving complaints that Dr. Kumari (a.k.a. Chand) had been exceeding the scope of her allowed practice, state regulators launched an investigation and found that she had violated her probation.
“The State has the responsibility to use its emergency suspension authority when doctors such as Dr. Kumari appear to violate not only the terms of her probation but the laws that were enacted to protect the people of Illinois from harm,” said Director Bluthardt.
State investigators also found that Kumari prescribed Xanax, a class IV controlled substance and Vicodin a class III controlled substance to two patients without conducting appropriate diagnostic testing or examinations to determine if these medications were necessary. Over the course of three months, Kumari prescribed. An examination of the physician’s records showed that patient A received 10 prescriptions for Vicodin and five prescriptions for Xanax over a three month time period. Patient B received six prescriptions for Vicodin and three for Xanax during that period.
By the action taken yesterday, Kumari’s license is immediately suspended and she is not allowed to practice medicine in Illinois. A hearing on this matter has been scheduled before the Medical Disciplinary Board on September 15.
A copy of the Petition for Temporary Suspension and the Order is available here. |
