Eastside doctor indicted in meds-for-sex case

Jan. 14--A Toledo area doctor who specializes in addiction medicine is facing multiple rape charges after prosecutors say he prescribed medication to women in exchange for sex.

Dr. Haridas M. Dasani, 68, of Sylvania Township, is accused of repeatedly prescribing Suboxone, a drug that eases withdrawal symptoms, to two patients and an employee with whom he had inappropriate relationships dating back to June, 2015.

He is charged in an indictment handed up by a Lucas County grand jury on Friday with 28 counts of rape and 27 counts of gross sexual imposition.

Prosecutors say he had sex with the victims in his former office at 405 Woodville Rd. in East Toledo.

Robert Miller, chief of the criminal division of the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, said the indictment accuses Dr. Dasani of abusing his authority as a medical doctor.

"We are prosecuting the case using three victims, including one victim who is a former employee," Mr. Miller said. "Although we believe there are other victims. these are the people who are cooperating with the investigation of law enforcement."

The current offices of Dr. Dasani on Commerce Park Boulevard in Northwood were searched by agents with the FBI and State Medical Board of Ohio investigators on Nov. 30.

Boxes, the contents of which were unknown, were taken from the building during the daytime search.

"We received reliable information from law enforcement indicated there may be inappropriate sexual activity occurring in the [former] doctor's office" in Toledo, Mr. Miller said.

Tessie Pollock, spokesman for the Ohio medical board, said the board is prohibited under state law from giving out information about complaints or ongoing investigations.

According to the medical board's website, his medical license is active until 2019. He received his medical degree in 1971 from the Government Medical College at Vadodara University in India and was first licensed in Ohio in 1976, the website shows.

In an unrelated matter, Paramount Care Inc., a health insurance provider, sued Dr. Dasani last month in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for alleged fraudulent billing practices.

The Maumee-based company, which is a subsidiary of ProMedica, is accusing the doctor of sending patients to laboratories outside the Paramount system for drug testing and billing Paramount for the procedures at artificially increased fees.

The billing practices were discovered by Paramount last summer and resulted in Dr. Dasani being overpaid by more than $640,000, the lawsuit shows.

Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.

Related Items

Dr. Haridas M. Dasani, sylvania, Suboxone, Prescription drugs, prescription medication, Lucas County grand jury, Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, woodville road, Commerce Park Boulevard, fbi, fbi raid , State Medical Board of Ohio, Tessie Pollock, Paramount Care Inc.

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