Key Takeaways
- Dr. Iftikhar Rasul’s medical license was revoked in February 2026 after multiple patient allegations and a multi-year disciplinary process.
- He was also arrested in 2022 for alleged misdemeanor battery.
- Although the criminal case against him was ultimately dismissed, civil justice may still be possible.
Who Is Iftikhar Rasul?
Dr. Iftikhar Rasul, a Florida psychiatrist, was the founder and medical director of a psychiatric practice known as Serene Behavioral Health in Orlando, Florida.
Public records also indicate that he was associated with Winter Haven Hospital and Florida Hospital Lake Placid. At Winter Haven Hospital, he was reportedly involved with the Behavioral Health’s Memory Clinic, where he worked with dementia patients.
Dr. Rasul described himself as a “renowned” psychiatrist and stated that he became a psychiatrist to help individuals and families struggling with mental illness and cognitive disorders, emphasizing a commitment to improving quality of life and a passion for helping others.
He focused his practice on adult psychiatry, including the treatment of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and medication management.
As founder, medical director, and, ultimately, a doctor, he operated in a position of authority, with responsibility for patient care in a setting where patients relied on him for guidance and treatment.
Rashul, courtesy of The Ledger, Lakeland, Florida, circa 2013, via Newspapers.com
A Chronological Timeline of Allegations and Professional Proceedings
The allegations against Dr. Iftikhar Rasul did not arise all at once. Instead, over the course of several years, 3 different patients described strikingly similar experiences during appointments.
First Allegation
The earliest known allegation involves a 19-year-old patient who began treatment in November 2017 for bipolar disorder. She continued seeing Dr. Rasul regularly through June 2019. During a visit on June 25, 2019, he told her he needed to take her blood pressure, which was something he had not done in prior visits. According to the administrative complaint, after taking her blood pressure, he moved his hand inside her bra and touched her breast and nipple. She later reported the incident, which led to the first administrative complaint in January 2021.
No criminal charges were filed in this case.
Second Allegation
Another patient had begun seeing Rasul in October 2018 for psychiatric care and continued seeing him for more than two years. After a November 2020 appointment, she reported that Dr. Rasul told her he needed to check her heart rate using a stethoscope. According to this administrative complaint, he “used an ungloved hand to move the chestpiece underneath [the patient’s] shirt and bra.” He then pulled her “shirt and bra away from her body and exposed her breasts and nipples.”
The complaint alleges that Dr. Rasul used a heart rate check in order to expose and touch the patient’s breast, conduct described as having no legitimate medical purpose.
Although this patient reported the incident to the police, no criminal charges were filed in this case.
Third Allegation
A third patient came forward in 2022 after seeking psychiatric care from Dr. Iftikhar Rasul beginning in July of that year. She continued treatment through October 2022.
During an October 2022 appointment, Dr. Rasul allegedly said he needed to check her heart rate using a stethoscope. According to documents, he then claimed “that he couldn’t hear her heartbeat, and that he needed to place the chestpiece on her ribs to listen to her heart rate.”
He then allegedly pulled her clothing away from her chest, exposed her breasts, and used his hands to touch her breast and nipple. The patient , according to the affidavit later filed, “felt violated as she did not authorize Dr. Rasul to do so.” (Miami Herald)
The patient reported this incident to law enforcement the same day.
As part of the investigation, she participated in a controlled call with Dr. Iftikhar Rasul. During that recorded call, she expressed that she felt uncomfortable with what had occurred during the appointment. In response, he allegedly reassured her that the conduct was normal before making a sexually explicit comment about her body.
In November 2022, Dr. Rasul was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery in connection with this patient’s report.
On April 5, 2023, the Florida Department of Health issued an emergency restriction order (ERO) on Rasul’s license, restricting him from treating female patients, and stated that they would conduct a formal proceeding to discipline him.
“‘Rasul willfully abused his position of power in order to sexually assault multiple patients under his care who trusted him to act professionally and in their best interests. [His] repeated and predatory actions indicate that Dr. Rasul lacks the good judgment and moral character necessary to be a physician,’” the order said.
On April 24, 2023, these second two allegations were formally grouped into a second administrative complaint.
Criminal Case and Final Professional Discipline
The criminal case proceeded on a separate timeline from the state’s professional disciplinary process.
According to the Miami Herald, “In October 2023, Rasul went into a pre-trial diversion program, which he completed in April 2024. This allowed the case against him to be dismissed and disappear as a charge on May 8, 2024.” For this reason, the case “no longer appears on the Orange County Clerk of the Court website.”
While the criminal case was over within a relatively short period, the professional disciplinary process continued over several years. The matter proceeded through hearings and review in 2024.
During those proceedings, Dr. Iftikhar Rasul’s defense contested the allegations. However, the final order ultimately found:
“Each of these patients sought treatment from Dr. Rasul to help with mental health issues. Dr. Rasul used his position as a psychiatrist to exploit their vulnerabilities and the trust they placed in him by inappropriately touching their breasts under the guise of checking their hearts.The testimony of three patients, having no prior connection, about almost identical experiences with Dr. Rasul, points to a pattern of inappropriate conduct by Dr. Rasul. Furthermore, each of their accounts has remained consistent despite the years that have passed since the incidents.”
Finally, in February 2026, after this extended process, the Florida Board of Medicine issued a final order revoking Dr. Rasul’s medical license. The order concluded that: “Revocation of Dr. Rasul’s medical license is the only appropriate penalty given the reprehensible nature of his repeated violations.”
Rasul and His Practice May Be Held Civilly Liable
Although Dr. Iftikhar Rasul’s medical license has been revoked, the disciplinary case raises serious concerns about potential civil liability for both Dr. Rasul and his practice.
In many cases, a physician, in addition to the practice or entity through which treatment was provided, can be held individually liable, even when a criminal case has been dismissed.
Medical practices, including those owned and operated by a single provider, have a legal duty to protect patients from foreseeable harm, to respond appropriately to concerns, and to ensure that examinations are conducted safely and professionally. When that duty is not upheld, both the individual provider and the practice itself may be held legally accountable.
The allegations in this case span multiple years and involve different patients who described similar conduct during routine medical appointments. That pattern, combined with the length of time over which the allegations occurred, raises serious questions about whether adequate safeguards were in place and whether earlier intervention could have prevented additional harm.
Civil cases can play a critical role in uncovering institutional failures, encouraging stronger safety policies, and helping to prevent similar harm from happening to others.
If You Experienced Something Similar
If you were treated by Dr. Rasul and experienced conduct that felt inappropriate, confusing, or outside the scope of medical care, you are not alone.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of institutional sexual abuse in Florida and nationwide.
If you were harmed by Dr. Rasul, you may have legal options. Being violated by a professional entrusted with your care is a profound breach of trust, and you deserve justice.
Whether you are ready to take legal action or simply want to understand your rights, our trauma-informed attorneys are here to listen and guide you with compassion through the civil process.
We encourage you to contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image sources: Rasul, left, courtesy of Serene Behavioral Health Services. Rasul, right, courtesy of Kenneth Kramer PI, via Facebook. Serene Behavioral Health, © Google, via Google Maps.
