The Arkansas State Medical Board suspended a northeast Arkansas doctor’s medical license in October, and newly released videos show at least some of the reasons why.
The videos, obtained by KAIT-TV in Jonesboro (K8 News), were submitted as evidence in support of an ethics complaint against Dr. David Diffine of Diffine Family Practice in Blytheville. The footage, reportedly taken during business hours in 2019, shows the doctor walking around his office and employees in the nude (except for a baseball cap), masturbating in front of three women in the reception area, and ejaculating directly on one of the women, according to KAIT.
Diffine is scheduled for a hearing on the allegations and his license suspension in front of the state medical board on Dec. 6.
This is not Diffine’s first time being investigated by the board.
KAIT reports someone complained about Diffine earlier this year based on the doctor’s posting nude photos of himself on a since-deleted Instagram account called @naked.drdave. He defended the photos as “well-known to the naturist community” and “promoting acceptance and body positivity.”
Diffine’s license was temporarily suspended as part of a 2017 medical board investigation into allegations of over-prescribing pain medication. His license was reinstated after the board found no evidence Diffine had violated state law. Both complaints were ultimately closed without additional board action.
KAIT says the state of Missouri also criminally charged Diffine for illegally distributing pain pills in 2011. He entered a deferred prosecution agreement and promised not to practice medicine in Missouri for three years. In exchange, the state dropped the charges, and the Missouri medical board closed the matter in 2013 without imposing any further discipline.
Diffine’s suspension comes only a couple months after another east Arkansas doctor’s license was suspended following his arrest on felony sex crimes allegations.
Arkansas State Police took Dr. Sudesh Banaji of Forrest City into custody on Aug. 26 on one count of rape and six counts of felony sexual assault following a year-long investigation. Those charges are still pending. The St. Francis County Circuit Court set a Jan. 27 trial date earlier this month.
Also in August, the state medical board revoked the medical license of Dr. Alonzo Williams of Little Rock following a two-day hearing on one count of sexual abuse and 16 counts of over-utilization of medical procedures. The board rejected the sexual abuse charge against Williams, a gastroenterologist, but found against him on the other 16 charges.
Video shows suspended doctor walking around nude in clinic, touching himself in front of others
Dr. David Diffine's license was suspended last month. Newly uncovered videos show why.
arktimes.com
