Psychiatrist Surjit Singh Dinsa suspended in Ohio, reprimanded in New York and Michigan

June 22, 2011

On May 11, 2011, the State Medical Board of Ohio suspended the license of psychiatrist Surjit Singh Dinsa indefinitely but for a period of not less than 180 days.

This action was based on (1) disciplinary action taken against Dinsa in the state of New York; (2)disciplinary action taken against him in the state of Michigan and (3) failure to disclose these disciplinary actions on an application for licensure in the state of Ohio. 

On November 17, 2008, New York Board charged Dinsa with numerous counts of gross negligence; negligence on more than one occasion; incompetence on more than one occasion and record keeping failures.

These charges involved seven patients he treated between 2002 and 2007, for whom he failed, among other things, to obtain and/or document complete and/or timely history; document adequate and/or timely mental status exam; order and/obtain appropriate lab studies and maintain an accurate medical record.  With some of the patients, he also failed to perform and/or document an adequate assessment of suicide/homicide risk; inappropriately prescribed outside the scope of practice; failed to consult prior treating physicians and prescribed/changed doses without medical justification and without medical consult.

He did not contest the 15^th specification on the New York Board’s statement of charges and on May 29, 2009, he consented to a reprimand and to have his license placed on probation for five years under terms and conditions. 

On June 16, 2010, the Michigan Bureau of Health Professions, Board of Medicine reprimanded Dinsa and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine, based on the actions taken against him in New York.

In May 2008 (between the time he came under investigation in New York and the time the Michigan Board reprimanded him) Dinsa applied for a license in Ohio. He answered “no” on the application questions, “Have you ever been notified of any investigation concerning you by any board, bureau, department, agency or other body, including those in Ohio, with respect to a professional license?” and “Have you ever been notified of any charges, allegations, or complaints filed against you with any board, bureau, department, agency, or other body, including those in Ohio, with respect to a professional license?” Dinsa had been notified by the New York Board and was aware that he was under investigation by it before applying for licensure in Ohio.

Source: Entry of Order and Report and Recommendation in the Matter of Surjit Singh Dinsa, M.D., Case No. 10-CRF-134, Before the Medical Board of Ohio and Consent Order in the Matter of Surjit Singh Dinsa, M.D., BPMC No. 09-102, New York State Department of Health State Board for Professional Medical Conduct.