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An Indian -origin doctor in the US has been accused of sexual abuse and medical fraud. According to the report, 51 -year -old Dr. Ritesh Kalra in New Jersey, USA demanded the patients suffering from drug addiction to have sex in lieu of illegal medicines.
Kalra operated his Fair Lawn Clinic as a ‘pill mill’, where he continued to give powerful opioids like oxicodone without medical prescription. 5 allegations have been lodged against the doctor, of which three are of illegal drug distribution and two of fraud.
On Thursday, after appearing before a magistrate judge, he has been kept under house arrest. Kalra will be released on the condition of filling a bond of ₹ 86 lakh. He has also been stopped from practicing medical and prescribing medicines.
Kalra has been barred from practicing due to sexual abuse and medical fraud allegations.
Allegations of forcible relations inside the clinic Many female patients have complained against Kalra to obscenely touching and demanding a relationship in exchange for medicines. It is alleged that the doctor forcibly made a relationship with the patient inside the clinic during the appointment.
According to the US Attorney Office, Kalra used to write intoxicating medicines to add to any medical need.
31 thousand illegal prescriptions issued in 6 years
According to the US Attorney Office, between January 2019 and February 2025, Kalra issued more than 31 thousand oxycodone prescriptions, sometimes written more than 50 prescriptions in a single day.
American Attorney Alina Habba said- The responsibility of doctors is very large, but as the allegation, Dr. Kalra misused the situation and promoted intoxication, sexually abused weak patients and cheated on New Jersey’s public health program.
Kalra is also accused of billing for fake counseling and counseling. Kalra’s defense has dismissed these allegations as wrong.
The case has come up amidst extensive action on the prescription drug misuse in the US, where doctors like Kalra are being accused of taking advantage of the opioid crisis.
Dr. Ritesh Kalra gave people without prescription drugs.
In 2021 70 thousand deaths occurred from drug overdose
Opioid crisis in the US is a serious health problem, mainly associated with misuse of synthetic opioides such as drugs, especially Fantanils.
The crisis began in the 1990s when pharmaceutical companies began selling Opioid drugs as a pain reliever and claimed that they were less drug addiction.
As a result, the doctors started releasing them easily, which increased the addiction in patients. In 2021, more than 70 thousand people died of drug overdose, most of which were associated with synthetic opioides such as Fantanil.
Opioids reduces pain filling
Opioids are a type of drugs used to reduce pain. They reduce pain filling by connecting with opioid receptors in the brain. These include natural (eg morphine, codine), semi-scholarly (such as oxicodone, hydrocodone, heroin), and synthetic (such as Fantanill, Methadone).
Opioids are used in the treatment of severe pain (such as surgery, cancer, or injury). Some also help in the treatment of drug addiction. Overdose of opioids can cause shortness, unconsciousness, and death.
