Underage Prostitution Arrest Leads to Medical Permit Suspension

On Tuesday, November 24th, the Texas Medical Board announced it had suspended the Texas physician-in-training permit of Dr. Bhavik Kantibhai Patel, D.O. after he was arrested.

Patel's license was actually suspended back on Thursday, November 19th without notice, but it was only on November 24th when the Texas Medical Board made the information public.

KAMC News reports that Patel was arrested back in February 2020 following a Lubbock Police Department human-trafficking operation. Patel specifically was charged with soliciting an underage prostitute, which is a second-degree felony.

Any further details concerning Patel's charges have not been released to the public.

As of the writing of this article, Patel's criminal case is still pending. He has, since his arrest, posted bond and was released from the Lubbock County Detention Center.

The Texas Medical Board released a statement saying that Patel's license was temporarily suspended after it was determined that his continued practice of medicine posed a continuing threat to public welfare.

A temporary suspension hearing with notice will be held as soon as practicable with 10 days notice to Patel, unless that hearing is specifically waived by him.

Until the Board decides to take any further action, this suspension will remain in place.