A New York doctor has been accused of falsifying the results of physical examinations for CDL applicants. According to federal prosecutors, patients would be examined by employees who had little to no medical training.
Based out of his doctor’s office at New York’s JFK airport, Dr. Gerald Surya would sign documents certifying that CDL drivers were physically fit to drive without even having seen them. The people who actually did see the drivers were not authorized to conduct the physicals.
“Dr. Surya’s conduct put at risk pedestrians as well as other drivers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly Currie when she announced his arrest.
Amazingly, just two weeks before his arrest and in a completely separate case, Dr. Surya had been charged with 26 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for allegedly selling patients painkiller prescriptions for $100 each. He had been under investigation since 2013 and allegedly sold prescriptions to patients for their families and friends as well.
If convicted of his CDL physical examination charges, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
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Source: truckinginfo, gobytrucknews, overdrive, ny1, abcnews
Frank in upstate NY says
Listen…most physicals that I’ve received,…accept (1)….just one, were done
in haste and speed….just to make money.
Patients’ mean money…it’s that simple…the more one sees in one’s practice, the more money one makes….and that’s “all that society finds to be acceptable today….not usually good works or work done right”.
John L says
My doctor make me sweat! but at the end, I wish all doctors were like him.
m says
So what happens to those that were certified as fit to drive by him ?Would they be considered as un-qualified to drive because of this incident ? I would personally seek another check up or play dumb . In 40 plus years of driving I have never once been asked for my medical card .
NYDivaTrucker says
Sadly, probably so. Ever since they’ve tied the Medical card to our licenses, the person has to be federally certified so the driver could lose their license or risk getting it downgraded to a regular license.
Luman says
Really? Dot scale? Never? I have driving only 10 years 5 times or so check my card. Maybe more everytime I inspected they asked me for card. Think now they might not because it’s tied to your cdl.
40 years ago, don’t think you needed health card?
Britney B says
Every trucking company my husband and I have worked for we have had to have a real examination and pass it… Medical card is only good for a maximum of 2 years, yes? They’ll have to get re-examined at some point whether it’s another phony doctor or not.
R Marx says
their is more then ya think on underhanded DOT physicals for example I was asked to take a sleep study test to sit in a DARK room six hours to see if I fall asleep was the test I questioned the validity of the test reported to DOT medical Board IN Washington D.C. that PROMED out of Charlotte ( Harris Blvd) orded it and they said its not a lagit test
Chuck says
And in New York……..Soooooo shocking !!!
Chrystal Ann says
My husband a driver for over 20 yrs, became cognitively unfit to drive yet one major company after another hired him, passed him through a CDL medical exam – 2 since 2014 “certified” doctors. They are supposed to check for cognitive problems but they don’t at all. Where on the long form do you see any checking done? This is a major loophole for them to jump through and work someone like a dog and then dump them after awhile when they “don’t work out”. Luckily, my husband has family and I got him medical care through the VA and am filing for him (got a power of attorney) against the companies in question. They can claim everything they are supposed to do is done but in reality they don’t care. All they want is a warm body to occupy the seat – they don’t care about anyone but the almighty dollar. Watch out for your fellow driver esp ones that don’t have anyone to look out for them.
Rooster says
Wait… Your husband knew he wasn’t fit to drive and took a driving job anyways? And now you’re filing suit against the companies that hired him?
Infosaur says
Heh, am I the only one wondering how you park a Semi at JFK to go in and take your physical?
I’m betting it’s another 3rd world H1B Dr. Feelgood.
It’d be nice if we truckers could receive disability compensation if we were no longer able to qualify for our medical cards. Spend 15 years digging ditches, 25 years grinding gears then another 10 as a Walmart greeter when your back AND your eyes wear out?