Board reinstates Iowa doctor’s license after conviction for assaulting patient

The Iowa Board of Medicine regulates the state's medical profession as part of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. (Photo by Getty Images, board seal courtesy the State of Iowa)

The Iowa Board of Medicine has agreed to reinstate the license of a physician criminally charged with sexually abusing a patient.

In December 2018, Dr. Venkateswara Karuparthy, a pain management physician from Bettendorf, was criminally charged with sexual abuse in Rock Island County, Illinois. Prosecutors alleged that in August 2018 he fondled a female colleague at Integrative Pain Centers while providing medical care to the woman. Shortly after the charges were filed, Karuparthy agreed to refrain from practicing medicine in Iowa.

The alleged victim in the case subsequently sued Karuparthy and Integrative Pain Centers, alleging that when she was being treated by Karuparthy he injected her with a drug that impaired her ability to move and then “repeatedly and intentionally touched, grabbed, fondled and kissed” her.

Karuparthy denied the allegations. Court records indicate that in June 2021 Karuparthy pleaded guilty to one count of reckless conduct and one count of assault. He was ordered to pay $2,500 in fines and undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment.

In July 2022, the Iowa Board of Medicine, apparently unaware that Karuparthy‘s license had expired, declared his license to be free and clear of any restrictions. In January 2023, Karuparthy applied for reinstatement of the expired license.

On June 13, 2024, the board charged Karuparthy with violating the law in the practice of medicine. The publicly available board records do not include the facts and circumstances tied to that particular charge, although it might stem from the 2021 conviction.

At the same time the board levied that charge, it entered into an agreement with Karuparthy to settle the matter. The board agreed to reinstate his license subject to board monitoring for one year, during which time his license will be on probation.

As part of the settlement agreement, Karuparthy has agreed that while his license is on probation he will have another licensed medical professional present for all patient examinations, treatments and consultations. Karuparthy will also be prohibited from establishing a solo medical practice.

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