In the past few years, Dr. Todd Shatkin has been accused of misconduct by employees and patients alike. Employees have stated that Dr. Shatkin would brag about his conquests to others. Patients have also come forward to allege improper behavior, saying that Dr. Shatkin would offer free dental services but only on weekends; patients would then be alone and taken advantage of by Shatkin in the office.
A well-known instance of misconduct towards a former receptionist of the family practice was documented by the court records and press. The receptionist claims that she was harassed by Todd Shatkin as well as his brother, Samuel Shatkin Jr., and their father, Samuel Shatkin Sr. According to court records, Todd Shatkin allegedly coerced the receptionist into an inappropriate relationship. The receptionist also claims to have also been fired by Samuel Shatkin Sr. in retaliation.
Additionally, Samuel Shatkin Sr. was fined and put on probation by the State Department of Health. The State Board for Professional Medical Conduct also charged him with professional misconduct, having found that he inappropriately touched four female patients in the 80s.
The case brought forward by the receptionist was unfortunately dismissed based on a technicality: At the time, one couldn’t bring this type of case against a business with less than 15 employees. The practice had 14 employees total.
A more recent claim of misconduct comes from a patient, who was a young, married mother of two when victimized by Dr. Shatkin. Having been a long-time patient of the Shatkin family practice – now known as Aesthetic Associates – Dr. Shatkin used his position as her dentist to obtain her cell phone number, striking up a relationship that eventually included him taking her and her children out on a lunch date.
Having been faced with a serious dental issue that could have impacted her appearance, the patient was made to believe that Dr. Shatkin was special in his ability to treat her. This complicated the relationship, as she felt indebted to Dr. Shatkin for having treated her. As an end result, the young mother became pregnant by Dr. Shatkin. She aborted the pregnancy and was subsequently divorced by her husband.
After a year-long investigation led by a professional review board, it was determined that Todd Shatkin would be sanctioned for improper conduct with a patient. The local recommendation of sanctions was rejected at the Albany level with no explanation. We cannot let this lack of accountability stand.
In spite of having negatively impacted the lives of so many women through his inappropriate behavior, Dr. Shatkin’s life has been largely untouched. He continues to retain his influence as a prominent, practicing dentist. It’s time for the victims to have a voice: Please contact us if you would like to file a complaint with the professional review board against Dr. Shatkin.
To read more about the lawsuits filed against Dr. Todd Shatkin, you can visit the following records:
- Drescher v. Shatkin (2002)
- https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1019071.html
- https://openjurist.org/280/f3d/201/drescher-v-e-shatkin