BY TIMOTHY LAROCHE
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NEWPORT — A former Valley Regional Hospital doctor accused of having a sexual relationship with a patient waived his probable cause hearing in Newport Circuit Court on Tuesday.
Eric Knight, 50, of Derry, will advance to an indictment in Sullivan County Superior Court. Knight is free on $25,000 personal recognizance bail after turning himself in to Claremont Police in January.
The former doctor faces a single aggravated felonious sexual assault charge, stemming from a four-month Claremont Police Department investigation into his alleged relationship with a patient. Police say more charges are expected, and the investigation is ongoing.
By waiving his probable cause hearing, Knight gave up his right to have a judge decide whether it is more likely than not that he committed the crimes for which he was charged. The move means that Knight’s case will advance to Superior Court for further hearings.
Affidavits used to apply for an arrest warrant detail police using cell phone records between Knight and the patient to find records of the two speaking about engaging in the alleged sexual acts. Knight is charged under RSA 632-A:2,I(g) with “acting in a manner that is not professionally recognized as ethical or acceptable.”
Allegations that arose in a Board of Medicine investigation into Knight that he may have assaulted the patient beyond the scope of RSA 632 are not addressed in the arrest warrant.
According to documents from the board’s investigation, the former doctor also allegedly prescribed high doses of narcotics for the patient.
A Valley Regional Hospital internal investigation found that of the 87 patients to which Knight prescribed controlled narcotics, only two signed pain management contracts.
Hospital CEO Peter Wright said in June 9 email to Knight that the “frequency of prescriptions and ‘double scripts’ is troubling.”
Valley Regional fired Knight on June 20 after he allegedly disclosed his relationship to Wright.
On Sept. 11, the board issued Knight a notice of hearing to show cause to determine whether his license to practice could be renewed. Knight’s license to practice was suspended later that month.
According to Board of Medicine documents, the patient said that Knight allegedly sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions in his Claremont medical office, his Sunapee residence and in the men’s locker room of Valley Regional Hospital.
“The board finds that this case involves imminent danger to life and/or health,” the order of suspension states. “Further, the board believes there is a reasonable basis for both immediately suspending [Knight’s] license on a temporary basis, and for commencing an expedited disciplinary proceeding against [Knight.]”
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