Editor’s Note: The charges against the parties listed below were dismissed on Oct. 9, 2012. See story.
BANGOR, Maine — Eastern Maine Medical Center is awaiting the findings of a police investigation into allegations that one of its new doctors threatened to throw his infant daughter out of a second-story window.
In a notice on its website, EMMC said it was aware of “recent allegations against one of our newly hired employees.” The notice does not name the employee, but Kelly Pearson, a communications specialist at the hospital, identified Gurpreet Singh, 30, of Bangor as the subject of the notice.
Singh’s arrest was reported in a July 22 Bangor Daily News story. Singh and his father, Harbhajan Singh, 65, were charged with Class D misdemeanor domestic violence and criminal threatening after police were called to a domestic disturbance at a residence off Stillwater Avenue.
The men allegedly tried to grab the one-month-old girl from her mother and threatened to throw the infant out of the home’s window after an argument about the baby’s sex. The child’s mother told police that her husband had been upset with her since the day he found out he was not going to have a son.
Both men were released on bail and are scheduled for an Aug. 22 court hearing.
“The employee, who brought the issue to our attention, denies the allegations and is confident he will be cleared of these charges when all of the facts come to light,” the hospital’s notice read. “EMMC is also closely following the police investigation and will take appropriate action, if action is warranted, when the investigation is concluded.”
Attorney Jeffrey Silverstein, who is representing Gurpreet Singh, said Thursday his client strongly denies any misconduct.
“He has a spotless background. There is no history of his having bias against females or girls. His sister is well educated and held in high regard. These allegations are preposterous and he is hopeful this will be resolved through the legal system,” Silverstein said.
Gurpreet Singh’s hire date at EMMC was July 22, Pearson said, the same day the article appeared. He is working as a hospitalist at EMMC, she said.
EMMC conducts criminal background checks on all employees, but could not disclose the results of Singh’s, Pearson said.
EMMC employs other physicians with the same or a similar last name. The notice directs patients with questions or concerns to call Pearson at 973-7740.
I know that my statement here is in no way politically correct, but he does not look like a professional I would want treating myself or any member of my family. Maybe he’s one of those lab MD’s who stays behind a microscope or something…
Nevermind. I see that he’s a “hospitalist.” That means direct patient contact. Winning.
:-/
Me neither but i do not discrimate
I find nothing wrong with your statement and your right ……………………. and for those that would be concerned because, it might not be politically correct …………………… get over it!!!
He doesn’t look like a doctor… lol.
Say good-bye to Maine.
Lots of Mainers do this, hate their daughters because they are female.
Of course, it’s the mother’s fault that she didn’t produce a son. This is not the kind of “diversity” that I care to celebrate, thank you.
Amen, brother.
Some things commonly practiced in other cultures are not pleasant at all.
Yet many people in this Country think we should still accept these horrific culture practices and be “open minded” no thank you!
Many reasons to be proud Americans. Some cultures do kill infant daughters when born. Men that live in cultures like that are monsters.
You would think they would dwindle. Kill off all the girls and sooner or later no one will be having kids. It’s a stupid outlook on life.
“America the great” says every American everywhere…. Personally, I never understood how self-proclamation is any measure of greatness.
His ethnic background is not what concerns. What concerns me is that in this picture he looks wasted. And the allegations are serious and very concerning. Most professionals accused of such an offense would at least be suspended, with or without pay depending on policy.
Also the picture of his father would scare you to death. The poor wife having to live with these men.
Hopefully, she isn’t living with them anymore….or stay tuned for chapter two.
I, too, hope she isn’t living anywhere near them. Hope she’s found a safe place for herself and her baby.
This is barbaraic thinking! I’m appalled that an educated man could still be so ignorant in today’s world. While I am grateful that we are a free country and can welcome other ethnic people, I feel that if they want to come here and leave their homelands (that they supposedly hate) why bring those dispicable and murderous customs with you! Stay home if you want to keep those cultures, don’t bring them here to our shores. And if you are working as a professional here please don’t look so unkempt.
remember this was a mug shot, not his employee id photo. Great Point.
….Though his employment date and the charges were on the same day…. What a way to start a new job in a new town….
I agree!!
What is with the big knot of hair on their heads? Is that cultural or religious affiliated? Or is it just fashion like the mullet?
The thing to remember here is everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
That does not mean you can’t be cautious.
They can be innocent but you still don’t have to be their patient.
That only applies to the criminal case.
So you would leave your child/grand child with someone accused of molesting another child because they are innocent until proven guilty? I sure as heck wouldn’t! Nor would I want a man accused of doing what he has been treating my child!
He should voluntarily take a LOA until this is resolved. Myself, I would not want to be under his care,
no matter how briefly until the charges were dropped. Then, I would still wonder.
If the allegations are proved to be false, how does the BDN intend to restore this man’s reputation? I’m just asking because if one of us readers made such an offensive comment, our rights to post would be restricted.
Well, obviously something went down because the police were called. So the thing for the wife is two against one when it comes to testimony. I would take the baby and go as this female baby means nothing to him.
you would think as an educated man he would know that the wife had nothing to do with whether or not he got a son…he alone and the number of his female/male sperm ratio was what determined the gender of his child…..doesn’t sound like much of a doctor if he doesn’t know basic biology…..
True true true.
His degree is from the mail/on line tarrorist school!
Scary, he could be….
This is why I go to St. Joe’s. I’d walk out of EMMC if I saw that coming toward me. Remember the EMMC motto “It’s’ not the patient, it’s the money.”
That’s why I go to Waldo County General.
ya…good luck with that place. Ill take one bad doc at EMMC as opposed to the entire staff at WCGH. They call it Belfast Bandaid station for a reason.
That’s your opinion. I’ve left EMMC because I was having an asthma attack and they left me in the waiting room at the er. I didn’t feel like dyint that night so I went to WCGH and was admitted to the hospital.
So in the middle of your asthma attack, you had time to drive an hour away to Waldo hospital so you could be treated? Yeah that makes sense.. maybe you were just in the ER because you wanted free inhalers..
Drip, drip, drip….How long does EMMC plan to continue this? Didn’t you guys learn anything from across town last year?
According to the state of Maine web site, there are no disciplinary
actions against this doctor. How can any company discipline or terminate
employment over an allegation? They can’t. As for his mug shot, well, have you seen any that make people look “good?” Did you see the
mug shot of Randy Travis in the news today? He wasn’t looking like he was ready for the CMAs either. Let’s let the facts come out. Would like to read what the DA is saying … where is that in this story?
I’ll bet that this Doctor didn’t marry someone twice his age-that’s a real crime.
Well, he just started the job the day he was arrested. What about a record from a different state or country? Where did he come from before EMMC?
It seems to me that Maine is a state where you can be fired for any reason or no reason at all. I doubt that there is no disciplinary action that can be taken. Policy of most employers is that an arrest can be grounds for immediate termination, whether or not you have been tried and convicted, at least that is what their paperwork says. He should at the very least be suspended and given non-patient responsibilities till the matter is resolved. If he were not a doctor, but an orderly, I suspect that would have been done already.
Being hated because you are female is not a “cultural thing”. I was abused and hated from birth by my father and a mother who would not admit to her own dislike of females. For the record my parents – parents and grand parents came from the Baltics and the Great Britain. So at least in my experience it does not matter what country or culture – some people want to have a boy. It has taken me years and years to accept and love myself instead of blaming myself for being born female.
Not knowing all the details of what happened, I would as that at the very least the hospital should at the very least give said doctor a desk only job.
I’m sorry that you endured that in your life. I have to say though, I definitely don’t agree with your statement. Girls are very much disliked in a lot of countries and boys are revered. This is a known cultural fact.
That what I was saying or trying to state in many countries including the USA boys are revered and girls are hurt. Am I making sense here. In many ways I am lucky because I do not carry the hate in my heart.
As long as that child was born healthy, what makes the difference whether male or female? Also, the doctor should be put on leave and not allowed to practice unless and until the charges against him are resolved. I am appalled that a 1 month-old baby was put in this danger as well as the mother.
Wow…he and his father are scary.
I wouldn’t want him touching my personal parts either. Especially, since he is allegedly the person who looks down on females and even his own daughter. Any women who go to EMMC ought to request they do not want this doctor attending to them. They might get roughed up based on cultural beliefs. Even if he is cleared, I would run in the other direction.
If you leave your own country and move to another… Why are you doing so? This type of behavior is disgusting. It’s a baby, a human being for goodness sakes. Leave the negative parts of your culture in the country where you moved from in the first place.
Here in the Bangor area- none of us should ever worry about the background of those that treat us in a professional capacity. “We check everyone’s background before hiring.”
Like Carlson?
Well, almost everybody!
I hope the hospital doesn’t let him treat women……he must have a very deep dislike for them to want to throw his own baby girl out the window. I just can’t get my head wrapped around the fact that EMMC still has him treating patients.
1. If your child’s camp counselor was arrested for sexual abuse of minors would you want your child sleeping in a cabin with him?
2. If your child was arrested for trafficking opiates would you send him/her to the pharmacy to pick up your pain pills after a surgery?
3. If your neighbor was arrested for stealing cars would you leave your car unlocked with the keys in it?
4. If your neighbor was arrested for poisoning someone would you drink or eat anything she/he brought you?
I could go on forever but the point is the man should NOT be practicing medicine until this is settled.
Wow, I don’t even know where to begin with this one. It seems that EMMC is tarnishing their reputation and image, especially their culture of safety by not at least keeping this doctor out of direct patient care until the issue is addressed. Guilty or innocent…he will be percieved as a threat to patients particularly women and babies. He could be retained at EMMC in a different capacity until the case is resolved. Innocent until proven guilty is everyone’s right in this country,….well unless you are getting on an airplane or entering a Federal building. Personally, I would be very uncomfortable having this doctor care for me, knowing the allegations against him.
Your post reflects basically what is the general attitude of the entire population of this country when it comes to alleged crimes: Guilty until proven innocent.
Not guilty until proven innocent…Cautious until proven something.
Calling the hospital, asking them to not let him see patients and putting him on leave does not sound like caution. And notsumdumb saying that they will NOT go to EMMC just because one man works there? Lunacy. Caution would be avoiding him should you have to go to the hospital. Anything above and beyond that is not caution. Try again?
I believe the hospital should be cautious, if he goes off the deep end and hurts someone there they will be held accountable for whatever happens and that could mean a big lawsuit! EMTs, Firfighters and Cops have to be suspended if there are such allegations why not a doctor who could do so much damage?
Why should we assumed he is going to go off the deep end and react by putting him on suspension? There is no proof of the allegations. The woman said he did it. He was arrested. Furthermore, if he really is crazy, how did he get here in the first place? Should we have been screening and control methods to keep potentially violent people out of the country? Or are we still letting as many in as we can, like always, so that we may, as a society, exploit them?
Im rather sure the hospital doesn’t care about a lawsuit. They are rolling in it and always will be. Thats the beauty of Healthcare. A never ending supply of new-born’s, sick and the dying to help to fill their bottomless pockets with endless loot.
Odd, when I go to the EMMC site and search on physicians, his name is not listed. I would like to know where he was before EMMC.
You have to type in his last name, then his first name to get this info, but it’s readily available at this public link:
http://www.docboard.org/me/df/mesearch.htm GURPREET SINGH MD License Number:MD19159EMMC (EMIC-KELLEY 6) License Status:Active489 STATE ST Original License Date:07/03/2012BANGOR ME 04401-6616 US License Expires07/31/2014+1 (207) 973-5687
Education and Training
Note: Information up to the date of initial licensure is verified by the Board.
Information provided by the licensee after this date is not verified by the Board.Medical School: MAULANA AZAD MEDICAL COLLEGE, NEW DELHI, INDIAGraduation Date: 03/01/2007
Thanks Hay, good sleuth work.
Thanks very much, appreciate the info.
So it looks like he came directly from India to EMMC. I have to say I find that very concerning. EMMC has had many doctors quit because their only bottom line is money. It looks like now they are only hiring doctors from 3rd world countries because they are cheaper to employ. EMMC is losing their prestige and growing lack of support from the community. We want quality health care and if you cannot provide that, we have choices and will go elsewhere.
Many great doctors have come from India and places other then America. They as a society, have been practicing medicine before this country was even wearing a diaper. Have a little respect for those who have helped shape this world. Not everyone who comes from a place is like this guy…
If you want quality health care, better quality then what most American’s can afford, just take a trip somewhere. Cuba, for example. They have excellent healthcare. Comparable or better then what the average American can afford and best of all, its free. To anyone. Or if you have some preconceived notion based on lies about how Cuba is evil, then you could always go to Norway, or France, or Switzerland or a handful of other places that have excellent, government provided health-care. America is pretty much the only well to do country in the world that still forces people to pay for such things. Its a shame. If you believe the healthcare you can receive is really all that good, you are delusional.
What is your rant all about? Many good doctors have left EMMC because they do not want to pay them. So if they are going to other countries to pay them less to come here, it is a very slippery slope. I bet nobody from EMMC went over to India to see if he was an upstanding person. You get a 50/50 chance with such a model for employment.
My rant is all about that there is a huge misconception that America is the Healthcare capital of the world. It isnt. Many good doctors may have left due to money but I suppose, if you are saving peoples lives to get rich, there is a problem. Why do you assume people from “somewhere else” are less qualified? Clearly ‘Merica is rather behind in the healthcare field compared to most of the civilized world, therefore I find it very hard to believe that the doctors and nurses who are a product of the broken system really are all that fantastic.
If you really care that much about such things, there’s a brilliant documentary called “Sicko” that you might find… enlightening. Might help clear up some of your misconceptions.
Are you kidding, this man is a doctor and doesn’t know how sex is determined? Seriously?
WOW….
“denies the allegations and is confident he will be cleared of these charges when all of the facts come to light”? Thats a pretty serious crime he was accused of. I am sorry, but EMMC just lost a lot of my respect. They should at least have him suspended pending investigation. Innocent until proven guilty? Sometimes that rule doesn’t apply. I hope this woman takes her baby and runs far far away from these two men in her family.
Yeah… You don’t ‘accidently’ threaten to throw your 1 mo. daughter out a second story window….
Are you for real? C’mon man.
There are other reasons against it too, i wont divulge in to them at this time, but ill just say it was gross
Aren’t Sikh’s supposed to be peaceful people?
Please do not judge this man by his looks because he doesn’t look like a MAINEIAC. Under Obamacare, where do you people think we are gonna find doctors???
I don’t think we’re going to find them at EMMC!–No matter what kind of “care” we’re under!
Nope. out of staters dont laugh at mainers when they see a maine doctor like this
A Mainer? Really? Are you sure they don’t attribute their dim view to grammar and sentence structure?
What do the doctors look like in Mass………………………..
Cross between Ted Kennedy and Mitt Romney.
Nice to see from about 95% of the comments that hate and prejudice are still alive and well in this “great” country of ours.
Alot of 3rd world countries kill their infants if they are the wrong sex. I guess that makes them sexist.. Don’t liberals hate sexist?
By the way has the Obama media been telling Americans about the 35 to 40 killed military personel per month in afganistan. Has he shown anyone the caskets?
The reason this country is in trouble is because liberals like you hate the truth. the truth makes you accuse people of being racist and bigots that way you don’t have to face realility.
Well said
Where in my post did I mention sexism or Obama?
…..
I thought that was Bush’s fault!
You need to pushtheredbutton. You are so off base that its not funny. By the way, the casket hiding from the American public was President Bush and his cronies. And if you are truly interested in the truth then you need to check your facts before you publish such rubbish. Your spelling seems to be alright so I can tell your not stupid just ignorant. And the reason you even talk like you do is because your scared of the ignorance you harbor. Your reality is as close as the mirror in your bathroom. Take a look.
double post
Umm just went to all the comments, where’s Bangorian’s and SpuceDweller’s input? I guess they “feel” it wouldn’t be nice to comment on this one because he’s a professional and a man of a different culture.
Diversity has them crippled from understanding that evil comes in all forms and cultures
I would not let him touch any baby of mine if I had one. He should be fired immediately!
I was just waiting for someone to blame the liberals – get a life!!!
Got one and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
If he is found guilty he could be deported- domestic violence convictions is a deportable offence- in that case, EMMC has nothing to worry about.. That being said, I would not want him caring for me either. It is hard to get MDs to come to Maine- they can earn so much better money elsewhere; it looks like EMMC was scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill staff needs.
I am sure any woman going to the hospital would love to see him as her doctor. There is your “War on Women”.
Innocent until proven guilty. Of course in Maine it tends to be hang them in the media then investigate and find the truth
I’m not sure which country of origin he is from, but some countries allow horrible treatment of women. Even death if a wife makes her husband angry for any reason. I don’t believe this man should be treating people in any hospital until he goes through the court system and is proven innocent. There needs to be a wait and see in this instance.
you have it backwards….one is presumed innocent until the court process proves them guilty..
Not sure if I do have it backwards. How many innocents rotted in prison to be executed and was innocent, to be proven that their guilty verdict was wrong after the fact. So I guess you go through the court system innocent, judged guilty, then after 20 years or so are found innocent. I guess I did have it backwards after all.. NOT.. But in this instance I think that culture plays a big roll in innocent and guilty verdict and I would tend to lean on the side of this mans roots. I think most of us have tried and convicted him already.
My point was NOT that our system is perfect as it is clearly not. That being said, our system is predicated on that an individual IS considered innocent until PROVEN guilty in a court of law- that IS the process. You say that ‘most of us have tried and convicted him’ – seems so none of ‘us’ were there to witness what took place- I find that an interesting statement. You mention this man’s ‘roots’ and ‘culture’….ok what about the Arundel, Maine man, Gordon Collins-Faunce (you know a white guy from Maine) who threw one of his
2 1/2-month-old twin sons, Ethan Henderson, into a chair and killed him? How about HIS ‘roots’ and HIS ‘culture?’ Stereotyping is a less than helpful and is nothing more than an inane mindset which is simply based on someone’s race or ethnicity or gender, etc, etc. and not facts. Domestic violence happens in every culture, every social strata, every country and it is wrong period. I think one should have more facts prior to rushing to judgement- a judgement based completely due to stereotypes. That was my point.
Like I said he has been tried and convicted by the blogging world of BDN. Now that is a fact. Like it or not. Spin that as you wish.
This is a catch 20-2 . You terminate him, he could sue EMMC on discrimination. And IF a woman goes to see him. She would scream abuse when he didn’t even touch her , just another way of making money..
It’s called a Catch 22
Not coming near my family, either. Bad form on the part of EMMC not to terminate this guy. And if the state’s medical board is true to form, the creep’s peeps will allow him to retain his medical license.
Don’t go.
Strange story,but last time i checked “innocent until proven guilty” is still the law of the land.the court of public opinion is hasty in it’s convictions usually ignorant of the facts before passing judgement.Let’s wait for a trial to begin before we hang him from the Paul bunyon statue.
Freedom of speech must be gone from our lives now. My comment got flagged by a poster who i wont mention.
I think just about every regular/semi-regular poster has one or a few of their comments removed at some point. It’s just the nature of the beast and don’t take it to heart.
That’s what society needs, more diversity. Be careful E.M.M.C, he’ll sue you and the police for discriminition against him due to cultural differences.
If you know anything abut the workings of a hospital you will already know, when things go terribly wrong administrators close the ranks around their doctors, often throwing nurses (who followed the doctors orders) to the wolves. To the bean counters it’s simple math, doctors bring in revenue where nurses are overhead and therefore expendable. It will be interesting to see how EMMC handle this one, maybe they can blame a nurse!
EMMC subscribes to industry best practices when hiring physicians, we thoroughly review and interview candidate’s references, and we comply with the hiring standards of both the Joint Commission and the Medicare Conditions of Participation. Candidates who fail to meet our rigorous standards are rejected. All newly hired physicians at EMMC care for patients under the guidance and mentoring of EMMC’s experienced physicians.
We remain confident that all of the physicians on our medical staff are of the highest quality and committed to fulfilling EMMC’s mission to care for patients, families, and the communities we serve.
EMMC is closely following the police investigation and legal proceedings and will take appropriate action, if action is warranted, when the investigation is concluded.
Maine likes to think of itself as so open and accepting, not so much. They are ready to accept the story in a newspaper that wouldn’t know the truth if it hit them in the face. People on the BDN seldom get the facts right. Don’t judge someone on the basis of what some person writes in this paper.
I work at EMMC and I resent to attitude towards the doctors we get from overseas. There are some really good doctors and if they weren’t here Mainers wouldn’t have very many doctors here to take care of them.
I have worked with Dr Singh and he has been very professional and very kind.
Many of the doctors are married to fellow doctors, from India
He was criminally charged – this is not a mere accusation. Police are required to have probable cause. This guy is another domestic abuser who will remain employed due to political correctness. I guess there is an excuse for domestic violence with some. This winner still has a job.
Say good-bye to Maine.
Lots of Mainers do this. They hate their daughters because they are female.
Another story shorts on facts, which leads people to make their own.
In America we don’t throw a infant out of the window just because of the gender of it. We let our girls live as well as boys. the dr should be charged for CHILD ENDANGERMENT OF A INFANT.