The Connecticut Medical Examining Board disciplined three doctors Tuesday, including issuing a suspension to a Glastonbury physician over allegations she has a mental health condition that presents a "clear and immediate danger" to public health and safety.
The state Department of Public Health issued a statement of charges Feb. 13 seeking the suspension of Dr. Sita Singhal based on "documents and reports" that since December she has had one or more "emotional disorders or mental illnesses" that would impact her ability to practice safely, according to DPH documents.
The board approved a summary suspension of Singhal's medical license to start immediately until a hearing on the allegations can take place.
In another case, a physician was given a five-year period of probation based on findings that she was practicing medicine while drinking, documents said.
Dr. Karen Sondergaard, of Trumbull, is accused of being "under the influence of alcohol" on March 3, 2022 while she was "on duty and treating patients," according to DPH documents.
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Her license to practice medicine has been suspended since March 2023 until her case was investigated and a resolution was on the table for board approval, documents said.
DPH documents said at the time of her suspension that her "excessive use and/or abuse of alcohol may affect her practice as a physician." She had been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and other mental health conditions in 2021, documents said.
The board agreed Tuesday to place Sondergaard on probation for five years, during which she must seek mental health therapy, attend support groups for substance abuse and provide urine screenings at regular intervals. She can resume practicing, under the agreement with the board, but must be in an office with other physicians physically present, and any missed urine screens will be considered a positive result and in violation of the consent order approved Tuesday.
The consent order also stipulates that her therapist must provide monthly reports to the DPH on her fitness to practice safely in a substance-free state for the first two years and at longer intervals during the rest of her probation.
Sondergaard told the board she has been sober for 11 months. "I would appreciate any monitoring the board can do for me," she said.
The board also issued a $7,500 fine and six months of probation to a Glastonbury physician who is accused of failing to treat a serious medical condition in a pregnant patient, and failed to test for streptococcus according to guidelines, DPH documents said.
Dr. Laura Bony, who provides obstetric and gynecological care, also failed to diagnose and treat preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, even as the patient's blood pressure was consistently elevated, documents said. Her care of the patient occurred from February to November 2020, the DPH said.
Her attorney, Heidi Cilano, said the incidents occurred during COVID-19 and safeguards have been put into place for testing of streptococcus and the monitoring of patients' blood pressure.