Rahway Psychiatrist Agrees to License Suspension

A Rahway psychiatrist has agreed to a temporary suspension of his medical license and permission to prescribe medication amid allegations that he was writing improper prescriptions for painkillers.

Dr. Ranajit Mitra, 61, owner of St. George Behavioral Care, had his medical license, New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) Registration and New Jersey CDS Registration temporarily suspended following allegations that he "engaged in repeated acts of negligence, malpractice or incompetence by writing prescriptions for powerful and addictive painkillers without medical justification," according to a press release from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. 

According to the release, Mitra allegedly violated a 2011 agreement with the State Board of Medical Examiners that prevented him from prescribing painkillers. 

The state's complaint alleges that Mitra did not physically examine patients before writing the prescriptions, did not document patient treatment plans, frequently provided large quantities of short-term painkillers, did not perform toxicology testing, failed to document and maintain patient treatment plans and did not consider painkiller alternatives or refer patients to specialists, according to the release.

“The clear and imminent threat to the public’s safety posed by Dr. Mitra through his alleged actions required his temporary suspension, and we’re pleased that suspension has been achieved while the Board considers further action in this matter,” said Eric T. Kanefsky, Director of the State Division of Consumer Affairs, in a prepared statement.