Indian American doctor arrested for trying to strangle nurse

Washington, Jan 25 (IANS) An Indian American doctor has been arrested for allegedly trying to strangle his nurse with an elastic chord as he was angry with her for giving medication to a patient at a "wrong time", the police said.

Venkatesh Sasthkonar, a 44-year-old doctor who specializes in weight loss surgery at Nassau University Medical Centre, was charged with strangulation and assault. He denied the accusations, the New York Daily News reported on Wednesday. 

Sasthkonar ripped an elastic cord from his sweatshirt and wrapped it around the 51-year-old nurse's neck during an argument at the East Meadow hospital on January 22, the police said.

The attack left the nurse gasping for air after the doctor reportedly took exception to the nurse giving his patient medication at the wrong time, Newsday reported.

"I should kill you for this," Sasthkonar allegedly told his victim.

The doctor left the hospital but returned hours later and was arrested. The victim, who was not identified, suffered "substantial pain to her neck", the police said.

Sasthkonar was suspended pending the investigation's outcome, the daily reported. 

His lawyer, Melvyn Roth, claimed his client "meant no harm and was only joking". He said the charges were "overblown".

"He just wanted to let her know that she had done something that was not according to protocol," Roth told the Long Island paper.

On Tuesday, the doctor was released on a $3,500 cash bail. He has been practicing at the hospital since 2008.

A surgeon was arrested on Long Island Monday for sneaking up behind a nurse in a hospital and attempting to strangle her with an elastic cord, cops said.

Venkatesh Sasthakonar — who specializes in weight loss surgery — had a disagreement with the 51-year-old nurse inside Nassau University Medical Center before he wrapped the cord around the woman’s neck at about 4:45 p.m., according to Nassau County Police.

He told the woman “I should kill you for this,” Newsday reported.

Sasthakonar, 44, fled the hospital but returned hours later and was taken into custody without incident.

The nurse was treated for neck pain.

Sashakonar is being charged with strangulation and assault.

The doctor has been practicing at the hospital since 2008 and performs bariatric surgeries on obese patients.

His attorney told Newsday the charges were “overblown.”