Bergenfield Dr. Raja Jagtiani Sentenced for Sex Assaults of Patients, Staff
By Mary K. Miraglia
HACKENSACK, N.J. (Jan. 27, 2017) — A Bergenfield doctor who said his “depression” caused him to sexually assault at least eight women was sentenced to five years non-custodial probation — but he also had to give up his medical license for at least 10 years.
Dr. Raja Jagtiani, 55, who lives in Dumont, admitted that he assaulted patients and staff over a period of time when his attorney, Aiden O’Connor, said he “acted in a manner that he now realizes was terribly inappropriate.”
One or Jagtiani’s victims appeared in court to describe her ordeal. “It has been a long time coming,” said the woman, a nicely dressed, middle aged mother. “Dr. Jagtiani assaulted me in more ways than you can imagine. He took away my self esteem.
“I gained weight and became depressed. I would wake up in sweats with his face before me.
“I wasn’t able to care for my daughter, and I almost lost my cleaning business, which I worked so hard to establish.
“Today marks the end of this episode in my life.”
Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Kristin DeMarco said revocation of Jagtiani’s medical license was a prerequisite to any plea offer from the state.
“His eight victims include patients and his staff,” she said. “Victim’s Advocacy spoke to all eight victims, and they have suffered extensive emotional harm. They all wished to have a plea resolution, as opposed to appearing at trial. But they also wanted action taken against his medical practice,” DeMarco said.
“That someone in his profession would fall so very, very far is a sad and disheartening thing.”
O’Connor said Jagtiani had voluntarily given up his medical license for the decade and, while it may possibly be restored after that period, he will be 64 by that time. O’Connor said Jagtiani, who did not speak in court, doesn’t wish to minimize any of the harm he has done
Judge Margaret Foti said she was troubled by a report from the state that indicated Jagtiani was resistant to therapy.
“I understand his medical license has been suspended for 10 years, but we still have to keep society safe,” she said, as she sentenced him to five years non-custodial probation, in accordance with a plea agreement that includes the license revocation as of September 28, 2015. O’Connor replied that the doctor is not adverse to counseling. Jagtiani pleaded guilty to eight separate counts of fourth degree criminal sexual contact, second degree attempted sexual assault, and simple sexual assault.
The single victim who spoke at sentencing described her relationship with the doctor, an internist:
“I referred patients to him because I thought he was a good doctor. Every time I visited I always saw him in an exam room, never in his office. One day I went for an appointment, and they put me in his office. I was talking to him, but he wasn’t listening.
“He got up and went inside my blouse and grabbed my right breast. Then he went around and grabbed the left one. I immediately left his office, but when I got to my car I burst into tears.” The woman said she was in denial in spite of sleeplessness and nightmares, and wouldn’t confront what had happened to her until one day her son asked, “Did you hear what happened to Dr. Jagtiani? He was accused of molesting a patient.”
“That’s when I realized what happened,” she said. She drove to his office, made a nurse come into an exam room and stay with her, and confronted the doctor saying, “Why did you do that to me? Especially someone my age. All I did was refer a lot of patients to you.” Then she burst into tears, but immediately went to the police station and reported the assault.
DeMarco is a veteran sex crimes prosecutor in the prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit, now transitioning to Computer Crimes Unit. O’Connor, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey, is with the firm Pashman, Stein, Walder, Hayden in Hackensack.
