Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe SEATTLE, June 10 (UPI) -- A Seattle anesthesiologist has been suspended amid allegations that he sexted and engaged in other sexual misconduct during surgeries. The Washington state Medical Quality Assurance Commission claims Arthur Zilberstein exchanged 45 sex-related messages during one particular surgery and also accessed medical images of patients for "sexual gratification." Advertisement Zilberstein is also charged of having sex with a patient while at work, improperly prescribing Oxycodone and sending a photo of himself wearing hospital scrubs with his genitals exposed. According to the Washington state Department of Health, Zilberstein "compromised patient safety due to his preoccupation with sexual matters while he was on hospital duty between at least April and August 2013." The doctor has 20 days to respond to the charges or request a hearing. Swedish Medical Center, Zilberstein's workplace, released a statement: "The safety of our patients is our number one priority. Once we learned that the State had suspended this physician's medical license, the physician's Medical Staff membership and privileges were immediately suspended. We just recently learned of these allegations and are conducting our own internal review of the physician, who is not directly employed by Swedish." Advertisement "I can't really talk right now," Zilberstein told KOMO on Monday evening. "I appreciate you guys. I understand you want to hear." Read More Australian pizzeria operator fined $335,000 for paying workers in pizza and soft drinks Man arrested for sexting police officer after initially calling about suspicious vehicle Underground volcanoes accelerate glacier melting in antarctic Donald Sterling backs out of $2 billion Clippers deal, will proceed with lawsuit Boko Haram abducts 20 more women, local officials say
