Seattle doctor suspended for sexting during surgery

A Seattle anesthesiologist has lost his license, for at least the time being, for sexting during surgery, improperly accessing medical record imaging for sexual gratification and having sexual encounters at the hospital.

The state Medical Quality Assurance Commission announced Monday it had immediately suspended the license of Seattle physician Arthur K. Zilberstein for compromising patient safety due to his “preoccupation with sexual matters while he was on hospital duty between at least April and August 2013.”

“He repeatedly failed to focus on his duties while providing anesthesia by sending text messages of sexual and personal nature with a patient,” says Michael Farrell, legal unit manager with the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

Farrell says Zilberstein is also accused of sending out a photo of himself wearing hospital scrubs with his genitals exposed.

Zilberstein worked at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, which released the following statement Monday:

“Once we learned that the State had suspended this physician’s medical license, the physician’s Medical Staff membership and privileges were immediately suspended. We just recently learned of these allegations and are conducting our own internal review of the physician, who is not directly employed by Swedish.”

Zilberstein is prohibited from practicing medicine in Washington until his charges are resolved. He has 20 days to respond to the charges and request a hearing.