‘Predatory pediatrician’ should lose his license over child porn charges, senator urges
Broward pediatrician Dr. Michael Mizrachy’s state medical license should be immediately revoked, or at least suspended, while he faces three child pornography charges, urges a state politician whose kids are patients.
“This predatory physician used his position of power and trust to gain access to children,” Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, wrote to the Florida Board of Medicine after Mizrachy’s arrest. “His deviant predilections and illegal activities pose a unique and targeted threat to the children of Broward County and beyond.”
Book, a longtime fighter against child abuse, said she was “horrified” to learn about seized photos of young girls during a search of the 49-year-old doctor’s Parkland home. Mizrachy, who until October was on the staff at West Broward Pediatrics, has treated Book’s children, she said.
She asked the state agency overseeing physicians for “the immediate and swift revocation or at a minimum suspense of Dr. Mizrachy’s licenses” to stop him from gaining “inappropriate access to children in medical settings.”
Book separately tweeted that she never suspected anything about Mizrachy, adding she “had no idea” and was caught totally off guard.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Mizrachy obtained his license in 2000 after completing a three-year residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.
Records show no complaints or discipline in at least the last 10 years against Mizrachy, who has an active license not set to expire until January 2023.
The Department of Health could not be reached for comment on Book’s request or the doctor’s licensing status.
Broward Circuit Judge Corey Amanda Cawthon on Wednesday ordered Mizrachy to stay away from all minors, but allowed him to have supervised visitation with his two children, one who is under the age of 18. He is free on a $30,000 bond.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said the investigation has not revealed any unlawful hands-on activity with children.
Agents said they found at the doctor’s home a child-pornography video, photos of children in their bathing suits, underwear or shorts, in which the children seemed unaware they were photographed.
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