Psychiatrist Rita Abislaiman fined $5,000 for numerous failures relative to patient care

July 20, 2011

On October 12, 2010, the State of Florida Dept. of Health Board of Medicine issued psychiatrist Rita Abislaiman a letter of concern and imposed upon her an administrative fine of $5,000.

This action was the result of charges that the Board filed against Abislaiman relative to her treatment of five patients. The general allegation was that Abislaiman failed to practice medicine “with that level of care, skill and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar physician as being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances” with regard to the outpatient treatment of five patients.

Specifically, Abislaiman failed to adequately assess her patients’ complaints and symptoms or failed to document making such assessments; failed to make appropriate referrals or failed to document such referrals in the record; failed to properly managed her patients’ medications or failed to document justification for her medical management choices; failed to adequately plan for her patients’ treatment or failed to document such in the record. Abislaiman failed to keep legible medical records that justified the course of treatment;  failed to keep sufficiently detailed and adequate progress notes on her patients’ progress and failed to enter comments on her patients’ overall condition from the physical, social, or other perspectives.

Abislaiman did not dispute the charges and forwent her opportunity to object or present a defense.

In addition to the fine, she must also reimburse the Board its costs for the investigation and prosecution of the case.

Further, Abislaiman was reprimanded March 21, 2011 by the Virginia Board of Medicine, based on the actions taken against her by the Florida Board.

Source: Final Order, Department of Health vs. Rita Abislaiman, M.D., License No. ME0072159, DOH Case No. 2005-54680, State of Florida Board of Medicine.