Dr. accused of sexually abusing patient

DEPEW, N.Y. (WIVB) - A medical doctor from Clarence is behind bars after being arrested Friday for sexually abusing a female patient during a medical appointment in his office.

For several months, a 49-year-old female patient had been having sexual relations during her appointments with 62-year-old Dharam Paul Garg, M.D.

On November 9, 2012, the female patient made an incriminating video recording the doctor in his office using a cell phone.

Investigators with the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Village of Depew Police Department spoke with Dr. Garg. after the patient showed the recording to authorities.

News 4's Brittni Small wood spoke with News 4's legal analyst Frank Clark who said, if a doctor is convicted of a felony, he loses his license to practice medicine.  If he's acquitted or convicted of a misdemeanor, he could still continue seeing patients

Clark says."Then the medical examiners consider the whole thing and decide what to do. They can do nothing, they can suspend his license, or allow him to practice medicine under certain conditions or depending on the offense they can revoke his license."

In a written statement taken by investigators, Dr. Garg admits that he had sexual contact with the patient for the past two years in his office. He says the female never complained. He also wrote, "I realize this is stupid and won't happen anymore."

The doctor was arraigned today on charges of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a class E felony, in violation of Penal Law Section 130.40(3) and Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor, in violation of Penal Law Section 130.55.

Bail was set at $50,000 cash and $150,000 bond.  He is scheduled to return to court on December 5, 2012.