ALBANY – Dr. Jonathan Zizmor – the Manhattan dermatologist whose face is plastered on his subway ads – yesterday was fined $40,000 and put on probation for negligence.
Zizmor, who promises better skin for his patients, failed to perform adequate histories and physical exams on nine patients, the state Health Department said.
Some of Zizmor’s former patients said they weren’t surprised by the news.
“There’s just not that much honesty in the world,” said Sheila of Queens, who had a facial from “Dr. Z” several years ago.
“It was expensive and it wasn’t worth it. But you just convince yourself you need it because of the ads.”
The Health Department, which set the probation for three years, also found Zizmor did not accurately reflect the care and treatment that was rendered in his medical records.
In four of the nine cases cited, the patients were actually undercover insurance agents.
Pat, 27, a human-resources assistant from Brooklyn, had a $400 chemical peel, but said yesterday, “It wasn’t really worth it. It’s more hype than anything.”
Pat added, “Nowadays everybody wants an extra buck. He’s just another one of those people, like a Martha [Stewart]” – as she sat on a Q train across from a Zizmor ad that read “Don’t fool around. Come to the Pro! Have your peel done by Dr. Zizmor.”
The Zizmor fine and probation is tied to a fraud investigation conducted by the state Insurance Department four years ago that resulted in Zizmor paying a $100,000 fine after billing for acne surgery he did not perform.
Yesterday’s $40,000 fine was related to the medical aspects of that probe.
Under terms of his probation, the Health Department can quickly move to suspend his license if he’s charged with another offense.
Zizmor’s attorney, Robert Abrams, said the doctor has admitted no wrongdoing in settling the matter, and that “there were no serious health or medical issues asserted by the former patients referenced in the agreement.”
“Over the past 30 years, Dr. Zizmor has built a broad-based dermatology practice that counts thousands of satisfied patients who praise his skill and effectiveness,” Abrams said. “Under this agreement, Dr. Zizmor will continue to provide uninterrupted service to his patients.”
Abrams said the Health Department did not claim Zizmor himself engaged in any billing irregularities and that the employees involved in the incidents are no longer working for the doctor.
He said Zizmor entered into the agreement to avoid additional expense and delay in resolving the matter.
Jennifer Fermino contributed to this report