MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A federally indicted East Memphis doctor can practice medicine while his case makes its way through the legal system.

We’ve told you about Dr. Sanjeev Kumar back in February, who was indicted on 23 charges including healthcare fraud and coercing people into sexual acts.

Dr. Kumar is also accused of conducting unnecessary medical procedures and reusing devices that were designated as “single use” without properly cleaning or disinfecting the devices.

And now, we’ve learned that the state of Tennessee recently issued a disciplinary report saying Dr. Kumar is not permitted to prescribe Schedule II drugs while his case is in the legal system.

However, his attorney told WREG that scheduling those drugs likely wouldn’t happen.

To be clear, Dr. Kumar denies any wrongdoing. His attorney said reopening the clinic is about patients deciding who they want to receive health care from.

“Certainly, no doubt based on the media in this case that everybody is aware of the government’s side of the story and the allegations there and if a patient still elects to see Dr. Kumar because the treatment they received – they believe is appropriate, that is something that every individual in the United States should be able to decide to do and that’s really what the judge’s ruling means here,” attorney Ron Chapman said.

In filings submitted by Kumar’s attorney, it’s cited he’s one of only 300 specialists nationwide in gynecologic oncology and high-risk pelvic surgery, saying the Poplar avenue Clinic where he practices is the only clinic providing specialized services in a 200-mile radius of Memphis.

“There are many different types of specialists here but that’s a rare type of specialty,” Chapman said. “While there are people who have that specialty, Dr. Kumar has written and published a wealth of papers, he’s had groundbreaking research in this area.”

But re-opening the clinic comes with stipulations:

• No re-using single use scopes
• Any and all new patients must be notified that Dr. Kumar is looking at charges so they can decide if they want to receive health care from him
• Dr. Kumar can’t perform hysteroscopies (patients have to be referred to another doctor)

Ron Chapman cited the influence the pre-trial publicity has made on his client’s case.

“It actually causes people to reframe the way that they thought about their healthcare,” Chapman said.

The clinic is not open yet but it’s expected to re-open in the coming days.

Dr. Kumar is expected to be back in court next month.