New York Health Officials Open Probe Into Doctors Tied To Epstein Files

New York's health department has opened a formal review of physicians connected to Jeffrey Epstein, confirming that allegations detailed in recently unsealed federal records are being taken seriously. The state agency has called the claims raised in recent media reports deeply troubling, saying they warrant scrutiny even as it withholds comment on the specific doctors under examination.

The investigation follows a wave of reporting built on more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents that the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed starting in January, according to Journal of Medicine. Those records included medical correspondence, lab orders, and references to numerous licensed physicians, and the Department of Justice separately released the names of doctors linked to Epstein, according to TMZ. A New York Times investigation also identified physicians linked to Epstein, per that outlet's reporting.

The New York State Department of Health said it condemns any abuse of a physician's role that undermines patient trust and safety, and it has encouraged patients who believe they may be victims of professional medical misconduct to file a complaint. A spokesperson declined to discuss details of ongoing investigations, and the agency said it would provide no further comment on the matter, citing the sensitivity of the issue.

What the Unsealed Records Revealed About Local Doctors

February reporting based on the unsealed federal records found that Epstein maintained extensive ties with Weill Cornell Medicine physicians, including former urologist Dr. Harry Fisch, who exchanged more than 400 communications with Epstein, and current thoracic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Port, who sought investments from Epstein for a biotech startup, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. Weill Cornell Medicine is a prominent academic medical center based in New York City.

Federal documents also showed that Mount Sinai plastic surgeon Dr. Jess Ting administered 35 stitches to a young woman's forehead on Epstein's dining room table after an island accident, and subsequently received a $50,000 research donation from an Epstein account, as Hoodline reported in its earlier coverage of an Epstein-named hospital wing pitch. Internal records uncovered earlier this year also showed that Dr. Eva Andersson-Dubin, founder of the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai, pitched a $5 million postoperative unit and suggested naming it “The Epstein Floor for Women” in exchange for a major donation following Epstein's 2008 sex-offense conviction.

Concierge Practices and a Multi-State Physician Network

In March, Manhattan physician Dr. Bernard Kruger stepped down from positions at two New York concierge practices after unsealed 2016 emails revealed his private emergency service charged Epstein $15,000 annually for a membership covering Epstein and five young women, according to MedPage Today. Concierge medicine practices offer direct physician access to high-net-worth clients, which made Kruger's arrangement with Epstein especially notable once it surfaced.

Unsealed records also showed the network extended beyond New York. Florida physician Dr. Bruce Moskowitz treated Epstein and coordinated gynecological referrals, STI testing, and medical treatments for young women in Epstein's circle, per Business Insider. Separately, documents and reporting from March indicated that Dr. Peter Attia's Upper East Side longevity practice benefited from early introductions, career guidance, and networking opportunities that Epstein facilitated as Attia established his Manhattan practice, a connection Hoodline detailed in its report on how the Epstein network fueled a doctor's rise.

How Mount Sinai Has Responded

Mount Sinai Health System has said in an official statement that it would contribute an amount equal to all financial gifts it received from Epstein and his foundation to organizations fighting human trafficking and sexual exploitation, while also funding its Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program. Mount Sinai operates seven hospital campuses across New York City, and Epstein donated at least $250,000 to the health system after his 2008 conviction.

The Legal Path Forward for Any Findings

Under New York Public Health Law § 230, the Office of Professional Medical Conduct investigates written complaints regarding physician misconduct under statutory confidentiality before referring evidence to a hearing committee, which holds the authority to issue censures, fines, license suspensions, or revocations, according to the New York State Department of Health. OPMC serves as the investigative arm of the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct.

State health regulations also mandate that hospitals and licensed health professionals report known or suspected instances of professional misconduct, incompetence, or internal privilege suspensions to the Department of Health within 30 days of occurrence, per Horty Springer. Failure to report misconduct can expose healthcare facilities to regulatory penalties, which raises questions about whether hospital systems named in the unsealed files met that obligation.

Because OPMC's process is confidential by statute, any formal disciplinary charges or findings against the physicians named in the unsealed files will remain non-public until investigative committees complete their reviews. The state health department said it condemns predatory or unlawful behavior and abuse by medical staff, and it said it supports all victims and survivors of medical misconduct, physical abuse, or sexual abuse. For now, the agency has confirmed only that its investigation remains ongoing, without naming which physicians are under review.