Chattanooga physician suspended over child sex charges

photo Vikul Patel

A local doctor has been suspended from his practice after he was arrested on charges of attempted child molestation.

Vikul Patel, 35, a doctor of internal medicine, was suspended from Nephrology Associates on Monday, according to Andy Derryberry, spokesman for the practice. Additional action taken by the practice will be determined today after a 7:30 a.m. called board meeting.

Patel was arrested by the FBI-led Safe Child Task Force on Sunday after authorities said he contacted undercover law enforcement agents about having sex with a minor child.

Patel's patients will be reassigned to other doctors in the practice, Derryberry said.

"They have adequate staff to cover the patients that were on his patient list," he said.

Nephrology Associates had removed Patel's name from its website as of Tuesday night.

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