Public health board recommends reinstatement for Dr. Schechter amid questions about purpose

The Department of Public Health board voted to recommend reinstatement of Dr. Schechter’s Connecticut license after reviewing his application, but several board members pressed for clearer information about why he sought reinstatement.

Board members noted that Schechter has been out of active practice since February 2016 and that his application materials did not explicitly state why he wanted the Connecticut license restored. "He didn't really say why he wants his Connecticut license back," Dr. Wolf said. Dr. Wolf and others asked the department to seek further information from the applicant. Attorney Bannon and Department staff reminded the board that regulations require the board to consider five enumerated factors when evaluating reinstatement applications, including credentials, length of prior practice, time since leaving active practice, disciplinary history and continuing education.

A roll-call vote recorded the board's recommendation for reinstatement; two members registered "do not approve." Board members debated whether the applicant had a duty to provide a statement of intended practice and whether the department should probe further before the board's recommendation.

The board asked Department of Public Health staff to follow up on outstanding questions about the applicant’s stated reasons for reinstatement. The board did not direct additional conditions on the recommendation at the meeting.