A Middlesex County doctor has had his license suspended after he allegedly reused rectal catheters on at least five patients.

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office says that Dr. Sanjiv Patankar allegedly washed and reused the catheters at his office in East Brunswick. The catheters are meant to be thrown away after a single use.

Officials say that Patankar reused the catheters despite a warning on a package that they were single use, because “testing equipment in his office is outdated and replacement catheters from the manufacturer are on backorder.”

A hearing by the Committee of the State Board of Medical Examiners found that Patankar “demonstrated a fundamental lack of judgment and placed patients in clear and imminent danger.”

Patankar’s license will remain temporarily suspended until a full hearing can take place.

Patients who believe that they have been treated by a health care professional in an inappropriate manner can report the incident to the State Division of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846.