Psychiatrist Mohammad Qureshi pleads guilty to 27 patient sex charges

March 29, 2011

Mohammad Qureshi pleaded guilty to 27 counts of misdemeanor sexual battery charges.

In exchange, the doctor will not face jail time.

"I'm outraged," said Gina Brown, a patient who told CBS Atlanta Qureshi groped her during an office visit in 2006.

Brown, who was being treated for panic attacks, said Qureshi preyed on women, some of whom had been sexually abused in the past.

"I felt he was trying to control me," said Brown. "He was seeing how far I'd go."

The assistant district attorney told CBS Atlanta his office agreed to the plea deal after talking with the victims. He said the majority did not want to testify if the case went to trial.

"A lot of their personal lives would have been put out there," said Robby King.

King said the charges Qureshi faced warranted jail time.

"This case was in the hands of the victims," said King. "We expressed to every one of them our willingness to try the case. "The vast majority of them just wanted the case over at this point."

Qureshi is on probation for 10 years and has surrendered his Georgia and New York medical licenses. He must also have no contact with the victims and cannot apply for a medical license for 10 years.

"I've been very sad," said Brown. "It's just like another slap in the face.

Source: Renee Starzyk, "Gwinnett psychiatrist cuts plea deal on sex charges," CBS Atlanta, March 28, 2011.