PHOENIX — A Valley dentist convicted for submitting years of forged anesthesia credentials to Arizona’s dental board wants to continue practicing dentistry on a restricted permit.
Dr. Pankaj Goyal applied for the permit on May 6, 2019 in order to practice dentistry in a volunteer setting.
The Arizona Board of Dental Examiners will consider the application during a special hearing on July 16.
The application came four days after Goyal pleaded guilty to three forgery charges for repeatedly filing false credentials with the dental board to obtain and keep a full anesthesia permit.
After ABC15 exposed Goyal’s credentials last year, he was forced to give up his dentistry license indefinitely while the criminal case proceeded.
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In addition to voting on Goyal’s permit application, the dental board will also consider whether to continue investigations that could lead to permanently revoking Goyal’s full dentistry license.
In July 2018, ABC15 exposed how Goyal used a series of fake degrees, forged signatures, and false documents to obtain a 1301 General Anesthesia Permit from the dental board.
The 1301 permit is the state’s highest level of anesthesia certification and authorizes Goyal to administer general anesthesia or deep sedation by any means.
The evidence against Goyal was clear and obvious, including his alleged residency degree which was made using a basic template in Microsoft Word.
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Goyal repeatedly refused to answer questions about his anesthesia credentials on the phone and in person for ABC15’s reports.
During a sentencing hearing, Goyal apologized and cried while discussing the impact the criminal charges have had on his personal life and professional career.
However, he did not apologize to any patients who trusted him with their care.
A plea agreement between Goyal and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office shows that he will face two years of probation, 750 hours of community restitution, $30,000 in fees and fine, and will pay up to $2 million for economic losses to his victims or their insurance companies.
He will likely avoid any prison time unless he violates probation.
Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at dave@abc15.com.
