A Passaic County doctor's license has been temporarily suspended following allegations that he groped female patients and made inappropriate sexual comments toward them.

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(SORAPONG CHAIPANYA, ThinkStock
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Dr. Alex Sarkodie, who owns a private practice in Paterson, agreed to the temporary license suspension after a complaint was filed by the Attorney General withe the Board of Medical Examiners, the Attorney General's office said Monday. The AG alleged that Sarkodie "engaged in gross or repeated malpractice and professional misconduct that turned his patients and staff into victims of sexual abuse.”

The complaint filed with the Board of Medical Examiners alleged that the doctor's "pattern of sexual misconduct" took place between May 2013 and March 2016. Authorities say Sarkodie allegedly removed a 29-year-old patient’s breast from her clothing and licked it during an examination. In addition, the Attorney General says the doctor "inappropriately touching a medical assistant’s breast under her bra during a physical examination."

Additional allegations state that Sarkodie slapped another female medical assistant's buttocks and touched her inappropriately. Authorities say he also has a history of making lewd comments to female patients and staff members.

“Patients who turn to their doctors for medical care deserve to be treated with respect and professionalism, not subjected to degrading assaults by sexual predators hiding behind their medical degrees,” said Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy.  “We will continue to utilize the full scope of our powers to combat doctors who abuse their privileges by preying on patients.”

Sarkodie is scheduling for a hearing before the Board of Medical Examiners on July 13 regarding the charges. He is now barred from practicing medicine until a further decision is made by the BME. The investigation was conducted by the Enforcement Bureau of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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