A New Jersey doctor’s medical license has been permanently revoked after it was revealed that she subjected her staff to domestic servitude. According to NJ.com, Dr. Harsha Sahni exploited two undocumented Indian nationals as housekeepers for eight years, depriving them of fair wages, medical care, and basic human dignity.

“utter disregard for humanity”

Despite suffering headaches after a car accident, Sahni denied one of her victims’ access to medical treatment, stating that it would be too expensive and legally complicated to see a doctor. Sahni eventually took the woman to the emergency room when the headaches became debilitating, revealing that the victim had a life-threatening brain aneurysm that required urgent surgery. However, Sahni coerced the victim into postponing the surgery until she could arrange for a replacement worker, underscoring the extent of Sahni’s exploitation.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin said of the case:

“There is no place in the medical profession for this kind of criminal conduct and utter disregard for humanity,”

Sahni forced both victims to work daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., paying them only $240 to $600 a month to support themselves and their families in India. But Sahni’s exploitation extended beyond grueling physical labor and lack of proper medical care. She also manipulated her victims by instilling fear of arrest or deportation if they reported her crimes. She further instructed them to falsely claim they were her relatives visiting as tourists.

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