New York State Education Department

Office of the Professions

Summaries of Regents Actions on Professional Misconduct and Discipline

December 20, 2001

Terms under which this information is provided.

Architecture - Certified Public Accountancy - Certified Social Work - Chiropractic - Dentistry - Nursing - Ophthalmic Dispensing - Pharmacy - Professional Engineering and Land Surveying - Psychology - Veterinary Medicine

Architecture

Demo Christoforatos, Flushing, NY
Profession: Architect; Lic. No. 016351; Cal. No. 19512
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 year suspension.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Bribe Receiving in the Third Degree.

Certified Public Accountancy

Richard I. Hartstein, Bayside, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 039622; Cal. No. 18458
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of, after being directed by a court order to return records to his client and failing to do so, causing the client to incur costs of some $70,000 to reconstruct its records. Respondent was also found guilty of willfully failing to register with the Division of Professional Licensing Services as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.

Howard Sklar, Massapequa, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 031145; Cal. No. 19470
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $20,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of failing, in each of two audits, to comply with generally accepted auditing standards in that he did not detect the mischaracterization of a balance sheet item in the financial statements.

Certified Social Work

William Gerald Carentz, Hartwick, NY
Profession: Certified Social Worker; Lic. No. 027734; Cal. No. 19592
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of commencing a sexual relationship with a patient three months after terminating the social work relationship.

Stephen Pesce, New York, NY
Profession: Certified Social Worker; Lic. No. 043245; Cal. No. 18021
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having a sexual relationship with a patient for a period of two years. During this relationship respondent was controlling and abusive to the patient. Respondent admitted to asking the patient to sign a statement acknowledging that there was no inappropriate sexual contact between them. Respondent also failed to maintain a record for the patient that accurately reflected the evaluation and treatment given.

Sharon B. Rivlin, Schoharie, NY
Profession: Certified Social Worker; Lic. No. 021573; Cal. No. 19365
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of revealing confidential client information.

Chiropractic

Frank J. Amato, Bellport, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 005294; Cal. No. 18075
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also February 2005)
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 24 month suspension, probation 24 months, $7,000 fine, complete certain course work.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of exerting undue influence on a patient for his own financial gain by placing pressure on the patient to bring family members into the office for examination, evaluation and treatment by him. Respondent was also found guilty of holding a "Patient of the Month" contest in which the patient who recommended the most new patients to the Respondent would win a color television set.

Robert Kaplan, Staten Island, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 006601; Cal. No. 19510
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution of last 18 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of having been convicted of Attempted Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Darryl Lawrence Koch, Geneseo, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 008954; Cal. No. 19596
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of performing professional chiropractic services that had not been duly authorized by the parent of a minor patient.

Harold R. Roher, D.C., P.C., Patchogue, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Cal. No. 19458
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of failing to maintain an accurate patient record.

Harold Roy Roher, Patchogue, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 005709; Cal. No. 19457
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of failing to maintain an accurate patient record.

Dentistry

Gerald C. Benjamin, Cropseyville, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 032953; Cal. No. 19345
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of failing to contact the patient's physician about the patient's health when rendering dental treatment to said patient and failing to maintain an accurate patient record.

Peter J. Demlein, Chittenango, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 037433; Cal. No. 19478
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of failing to document the results of a preliminary examination.

Frank P. DiBlasi, Massapequa, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 030521; Cal. No. 19392
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution of last 22 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $25,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of permitting an unlicensed individual to perform dental services that required a license on two patients.

Mina Farah, Richmond Hill, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 040491; Cal. No. 19759
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of submitting for payment false dental insurance claim forms.

Gerald M. Greenberg, East Hills, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 034207; Cal. No. 19488
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of prescribing amoxicillin to a patient who was allergic to penicillin.

Barry Joseph Goldman, New York, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 022352; Cal. No. 19569
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $7,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of permitting an unlicensed person to perform dental hygiene services.

Irlene Siegel, Mineola, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 043252; Cal. No. 19471
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also March 2007)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of willfully filing a false claim form indicating that she had completed dental work on a patient when, in fact, she had not.

Irlene Siegel Dentist, P.C., Mineola, NY
Profession: Dentist; Cal. No. 19472
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand.
Summary: Respondent admitted to charge of willfully filing a false claim form indicating that she had completed dental work on a patient when, in fact, she had not.

Sidney Starman, Rochester, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 024220; Cal. No. 19571
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also June 2000)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial suspension in certain area until terminated as set forth in consent order application, probation 2 years, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of performing inadequate root canal therapy.

Nursing

Josephine Martinez Aragoncillo a/k/a Josephine Martinez Badshah, Rego Park, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 193695, 414928; Cal. Nos. 19644, 19645
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of stealing two employee payroll checks from her nursing employer.

Mary Ellen Bontempo-Singer, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; NY Lic. No. 258131; Cal. No. 19203
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of failing to maintain an adequate patient record.

Audrie Brown, Bronson, FL
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 284814; Cal. No. 19647
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.

Ann M. Caron, Peru, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 103377; Cal. No. 18914
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of improperly documenting the administration of a medication.

Dolores R. Chavis, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 214533; Cal. No. 17857
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also February 1995)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 18 month suspension, probation 5 years, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of submitting documentation to her employer that falsely indicated that she made twenty-one home care visits, containing falsified information regarding the patient's condition, and practicing the profession of nursing while her license to practice was suspended.

Lisa Ann Choy, Rochester, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 210546; Cal. No. 19558
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year to commence upon return to practice, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class B misdemeanor.

Pauline Clifford, Valley Stream, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 106074; Cal. No. 19024
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Censure and Reprimand, 20 hours of public service, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Attempted Petit Larceny, a class B misdemeanor.

Marie Teresa Cronin, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 241303, 484291; Cal. Nos. 18972, 18973
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Censure and Reprimand, probation through February 14, 2003.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Gordon J. Ellwanger, Rochester, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 257418; Cal. No. 19584
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated.

Thomas Lee Ervin, Corcoran, CA
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 474371; Cal. No. 19614
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of practicing the profession of nursing beyond its authorized scope and fraudulently obtaining his license to practice as a registered professional nurse.

Adele M. Fitter, Kings Park, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 188634; Cal. No. 18773
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension with leave to apply for early termination, after service of at least 3 months of suspension, as set forth in consent order application, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of altering the medication report of a patient to indicate that a medication had been administered, failing to administer two medications to a patient, and discontinuing one of said medications without a physician's order.

Shannon Mary Fitzpatrick, North Merrick, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 250122; Cal. No. 19299
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also June 2003)
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Driving While Intoxicated, both unclassified misdemeanors.

Edward Andrew Fowler, Jacksonville, NC
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 211003, 434340; Cal. Nos. 18898, 18899
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of making false entries in hospital records, being a habitual user of narcotics and stealing controlled substances from his place of employment.

George Joseph Hadden, Glen Oaks, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 389903; Cal. No. 19567
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Criminal Possession of Marijuana in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Eileen Patricia Haynes, Guilford, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 224624; Cal. No. 18868
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Suspension until terminated as set forth in Regents Review Committee report - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted twice of Driving While Intoxicated and once of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

Louise Horsfield, Miami, FL
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 479715; Cal. No. 19570
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of failing to properly document patient care, and failing to inform a physician of a patient's condition.

James Louis Jackson, Jr., Syracuse, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 151780, 445009; Cal. Nos. 19575, 19574
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension, for a minimum of 6 months, and until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of unreasonable failure to apply needed patient treatment and to protect patient privacy.

Lisa M. Jobson, Clayton, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 250636; Cal. No. 19581
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of last 11 months of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Petit Larceny and admitted to charge of falsely reporting on an application for employment that she had never been convicted of a crime after the conviction occurred.

Versil Julien, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 345165; Cal. No. 19306
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of failing to render required immediate care to a patient who had a blood pressure of 180/130.

Stormy J. Lake, Schenectady, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 228786; Cal. No. 19279
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial suspension in certain area until terminated as set forth in consent order application, probation 2 years, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of making medication errors on more than one occasion.

Noreen Lingham a/k/a Noreen Ross, Hicksville, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 229651, 456687; Cal. Nos. 19317, 18885
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also June 2005)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial suspension in certain area until terminated as set forth in consent order application, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of failing to administer medications as ordered, failing to complete a patient assessment, falling asleep while on duty, placing narcotic keys on a desk and leaving the unit, and failing to wear required protective garb with an isolated patient.

Minnie Alice Logan, New Rochelle, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 075339; Cal. No. 18971
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Kwang E. Lucido, East Sunrise, FL
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 268125; Cal. No. 18888
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of obtaining Demerol from her nursing employer for her personal use.

Mary Mable Mare, Schenectady, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 241699; Cal. No. 18965
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of failing to document the administration of medications to patients.

Donna C. McDonough, Salamanca, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 167058; Cal. No. 19193
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Suspension until terminated as set forth in Regents Review Committee report.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, a class E felony.

Madeleine Therese McPherson, Rochester, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 229187, 483053; Cal. Nos. 19711, 19710
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also November 2001)
Action: Application to surrender licenses granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of working as a nurse while her license to practice had been surrendered.

Thomas James Melia, Lindenhurst, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 244879, 487292; Cal. Nos. 19553, 19039
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of failing to indicate on his Applications for License and First Registration as a licensed practical nurse and as a registered professional nurse in 1996 that he had been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated in 1986. Licensee also admitted to charge of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor in 1998.

Matthew M. Niedzielski, Selden, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 238063; Cal. No. 19562
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also November 1999)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, 25 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated.

Martiale Paul, Jamaica, NY
Profession: Licensed Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 189866; Cal. No. 19251
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution stayed, probation 2 years, fine $2,500.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of falsely indicating on her application for licensure as a registered professional nurse in the State of New York that she had received an Associate Nursing Degree.

Beth Susanne Remus, Great Neck, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 451065; Cal. No. 19425
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of writing a prescription for Hycodan tablets, a controlled substance, for her own use, when in fact, she was not authorized by licensure to write prescriptions.

Michelle Kathleen Schutt, LeRoy, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 488094; Cal. No. 19623
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also February 2004)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension 1 month with leave to apply for a stay of execution of any unserved portion of suspension as set forth in consent order application - upon service or stay of execution of any unserved portion of suspension, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of being dependent on or a habitual user of drugs including Fentanyl, Klonopin, Valium, and Vicodin.

Amy Patricia Soso, Peekskill, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 315691; Cal. No. 19382
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial suspension in certain area until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of making medication errors and failing to follow a physician's order.

Cheryl A. Tobin, Rush, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 237967; Cal. No. 19326
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $750 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of filling a narcotic medication bottle with water.

Noreen Torres, Island Park, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 212337; Cal. No. 18882
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor, and submitting a re-registration application in which she failed to disclose the Petit Larceny conviction.

Linda Tushaj-Duran, Ronkonkoma, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 164623; Cal. No. 19501
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of eleven crimes: nine class A misdemeanors, one class B misdemeanor and one class E felony.

Nancy Vaverchak, Cicero, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 457268; Cal. No. 19139
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month suspension - upon service of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, a class E felony.

Morgen Lynn Vierow, Sherrill, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 234291; Cal. No. 19674
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree.

Margaret Louise Wachtmeister, Plattsburgh, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 400469; Cal. No. 18714
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of administering a duplicate dose of a vitamin B12 injection, failing to draw blood samples as ordered, failing to document that a home health aide was "pre-pouring" medications, and failing to transcribe a physician's order for Prednisone onto the medical administration record.

Andrea Wilson, Acra, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 231677; Cal. No. 19621
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of conduct evidencing moral unfitness to practice nursing.

Ann Young, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 200145; Cal. No. 19153
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of administering double the dose of medication prescribed to a patient.

Ophthalmic Dispensing

Raymond F. Calhoon, Cheektowaga, NY
Profession: Ophthalmic Dispensing; Lic. No. 005028; Cal. No. 19235
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also September 2004 and July 2008)
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Suspension until terminated as set forth in Regents Review Committee report.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, a class E felony; Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the first degree, a class E felony; Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the second degree, an unclassified misdemeanor; and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the third degree, an unclassified misdemeanor and violating Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1192.

Pharmacy

Kevin M. Behan, Poestenkill, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 038605; Cal. No. 19632
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension for no less than 3 years and until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of diverting the controlled substances Hydrocodone and Phenterime and deleting prescriptions from the pharmacy's computer system after the prescriptions were dispensed in order to keep the co-payments made by the patients for the prescriptions.

Robert Brenner, Nesconset, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 024743; Cal. No. 19654
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also September 1999)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of dispensing the wrong medication.

Angela M. Difasi, Fayetteville, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 039915; Cal. No. 19442
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of failing to oversee the preparation of the pharmacy's biennial controlled substances inventory and failing to complete triplicate prescription forms after dispensing controlled substances.

Gheyas A. Iqbal, New Hyde Park, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 036614; Cal. No. 19503
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 24 months, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of willfully dispensing, on two occasions, a prescription-required drug without a prescription.

Isak Pharmacy, Inc., Hollis, NY
Profession: Pharmacy; Reg. No. 018250; Cal. No. 19504
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Respondent admitted to charge of willfully dispensing, on two occasions, a prescription-required drug without a prescription.

Hameed Anwar Mirza, Jersey City, NJ
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 039019; Cal. No. 19104
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001 (see also April 2000)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medication in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Vincent Nizza, Kings Park, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 034862; Cal. No. 18977
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension for at least 3 months and until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of having been convicted of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Sabuha Qureshi-Din, Westbury, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 039626; Cal. No. 18984
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: $500 fine, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of sale of a drug in a dosage dangerous to health, and failing to offer counseling.

Professional Engineering and Land Surveying

Nyron Roy Hall, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Professional Engineer; Lic. No. 071543; Cal. No. 19414
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of sharing fees with a non-licensee.

Richard James Lighton, Syracuse, NY
Profession: Land Surveyor; Lic. No. 045373; Cal. No. 19064
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of failing to perform a full field survey for a client and failing to properly disclose on revised surveys revisions that were made from the initial survey.

Psychology

Michael Lourie, New York, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 011771; Cal. No. 19289
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 5 year suspension - upon service of suspension, probation 3 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of engaging in physical contact of a sexual nature with a client during the course of treatment.

Seth D. Rigberg, Albany, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 012129; Cal. No. 19355
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of revealing confidential client information.

Veterinary Medicine

Carleton W. Potter, Homer, NY
Profession: Veterinary Medicine; Lic. No. 001350; Cal. No. 19269
Regents Action Date: December 20, 2001
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 year suspension with leave to apply for early termination, after service of 3 months of suspension, as set forth in consent order application, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of causing the death of a canine patient and maintaining inadequate records.

For further information: dplsdsu@mail.nysed.gov
Last Update: February 10, 2009
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