January 14, 2011
Office of The Attorney General
– Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Consumer Affairs
– Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director
Media Inquiries-
Jeff Lamm
973-504-6327
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925
Two Physicians Facing Disciplinary Hearings at the Division of Consumer Affairs Agree to Surrender Their Licenses
NEWARK – Two physicians who were facing disciplinary hearings before a licensing board within the State Division of Consumer Affairs following their recent arrests instead agreed to voluntarily surrender their licenses and cease practice while the criminal charges are pending.
Dr. Michael Chung Kay Lam, 44, who had an office in Fort Lee, on December 21, 2010 was arrested and charged with four counts of distributing a Controlled Dangerous Substance and one count of money laundering. The BME yesterday agreed to an Interim Consent Order with Lam. His voluntary surrender is deemed to be a temporary license suspension that will remain in effect pending further Board action.
Dr. Rocco Martino, 42, who had an office in Millburn, on December 29, 2010 was arrested and charged with knowingly possessing and knowingly accessing, with the intent to view, child pornography. Martino’s surrender of his medical license on Tuesday is deemed to be a temporary suspension, which remains in effect until further action by the BME under terms of the Interim Consent Order between Martino and the Board.
“Our licensing Boards are prepared to act when licensees pose an imminent danger to the public’s health, safety and welfare. If these two physicians had not agreed to surrender their licenses, the Board of Medical Examiners was ready to convene hearings to consider ordering their licenses to be temporarily suspended,” Attorney General Paula T. Dow said.
“These physicians could not be allowed to continue to see patients, based on the serious criminal charges pending against them,” said Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs.
Deputy Attorney General Doreen A. Hafner is representing the state in the Martino case, while DAG David M. Puteska is handling the Lam case.
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