Dr. Deb Mukhopadhyay, M.D., is accused by the investigative committee of the Medical Board of one count of malpractice and one count of failure to maintain complete medical records. The investigative committee firmly believes Dr. Mukhopadhyay violated the Medical Practices Act accusing Mukhopadhyay failed to use the reasonable care, skill, or knowledge ordinarily used when rendering medical service to a patient under his care.

As per the complaint, a patient was admitted at the Mountain View Hospital with complaints of feeling dehydrated and weak and was finally diagnosed with a massive recurrence of oral tongue cancer extending to the area of vocal cords associated with the inability to swallow. Dr. Mukhopadhyay chooses to perform a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement on the patient. As per the complaint, Mukhopadhyay’s notes and records do not show that he conducted an oral examination of the patient to assess the feasibility of using a gastroscope for the PEG tube placement or consulted with the patient on surgical alternatives available to the patient for making a decision. 

The patient’s medical records show that using a gastroscope could be unsafe due to the patient’s medical condition. During the attempted placement of the PEG tube with anesthesia by Dr. Mukhopadhyay, he could not pass the adult gastroscopy over the patient’s tongue due to a lack of room. At that time, Dr. Mukhopadhyay tried to put a pediatric gastroscope. Per the complaint, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest during the unsuccessful procedure. A rapid response team was called, and the patient was resuscitated and transferred to ICU in an unstable condition.

Based on the above facts, it is alleged Mukhopadhyay failed to use reasonable care, skill, or knowledge by not being aware of the patient’s significant oral obstruction, which would have made the PEG placement impossible. Additionally, Mukhopadhyay failed to advise the anesthesiologist about the procedure for the obstruction, which would have made the patient’s airway vulnerable.

Dr. Deb Mukhopadhyay graduated from Nilratan Sircar Medical School, Calcutta, India.Mukhopadhyay completed his medical residency at SUNY-Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, followed by a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.