Chicago Tribune 10-04-2013 (Physician License)

Doctor sues to regain license

Chicago Tribune
October 4, 2013

A downstate doctor cleared of felony sexual abuse charges is taking a state agency to court in hopes of resuming his medical practice.

Dr. Jogendra S. Chhabra, of Marion, filed a suit Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court asking the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to remove the suspension of his medical license.

State regulators required Chhabra to only see patients with a chaperone after he was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and battery. The agency later suspended his license, alleging that he failed to comply with the chaperone requirement.

The criminal charges against Chhabra were dismissed in August, according to online court records in White County, Ill. Chhabra had been facing trial on two felony charges and a single misdemeanor charge in the downstate county about 130 miles southeast of St. Louis.

Records show that Chhabra’s medical license has been suspended since March 2012. A spokeswoman for the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said she couldn’t comment.

– Mitch Smith