Connecticut psychiatrist Dr. Douglas Zelisko – who is alleged to have defrauded patients and supplied them with illicit drugs in one of the most bizarre and troubling cases in recent history – had his medical license revoked by the Connecticut Board of Medical Examiners after he failed to show up for his own hearing.
During the September 3 hearing of the board, Zelisko showed up late via phone call and requested a time extension so he could return with a lawyer, but neither he nor an attorney on his behalf was present on the 24th. Zelisko did not submit anything to the board contesting the charges, thus allowing the charges to be “deemed admitted.”
Department of Public Health officials presented twenty-one charges against Zelisko that included foisting his romantic partner, Aleixander Puerta, onto patients as a certified life coach and therapist, ordering controlled substances in patients’ names but having those drugs delivered to his home for his and Puerta’s use, fraudulently billing patients, and Puerta and Zelisko supplying to and using illicit street drugs with patients.
The board found all twenty-one charges were true and proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
According to evidence and statements given by a patient’s family, Zelisko and Puerta supplied at least one patient with crack and methamphetamine and sexually abused him, resulting in long-term hospitalization and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. At least four patients are mentioned in the charges.
Zelisko, who also worked for several years with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as a per diem psychiatrist, did not respond to DPH’s investigation or subpoenas for records. Likewise, he has only responded intermittently to the board’s requests. During his brief remarks at the prior hearing, Zelisko blamed everything on a “domestic violence situation.”
Records show that Zelisko and Puerta created their own business and then allegedly used that business to fraudulently bill patient families for Puerta’s “therapeutic” services, which allegedly include supplying patients with street drugs. Zelisko also bailed Puerta out of jail following a January 2026 arrest. Puerta is purportedly in jail following an arrest in August and, despite the wild charges levied against him, Zelisko has not been arrested or criminally charged.
Zelisko’s medical license was suspended in August 2026, and he turned over his controlled substances license that same month following DPH’s investigation and charges. However, DPH became aware of the troubling accusations against Zelisko nearly a year earlier, in September 2025, after at least four psychiatrists reached out to the department expressing severe concerns.
Board members previously questioned why the department took so long to take action but did not receive much of a response during the prior meeting; DPH did not respond to questions submitted by Inside Investigator.
During the revocation hearing, the board reviewed written testimony from a patient’s family in private.
Among DPH officials’ allegations are that Zelisko and Puerta took a patient dealing with addiction and psychosis issues to bars and restaurants, abused illicit substances with the patient, and had him stay at Zelisko’s home. Letters from an inmate in the Massachusetts correctional system to a patient’s family recounted abusing crack with Puerta and the patient, and alleged the patient was being sexually abused by the pair.
The board voted to revoke Zelisko’s license and impose a “very significant” civil penalty against Zelisko, who currently faces multiple court actions seeking to collect debts and has had his Glastonbury house foreclosed upon.
“These charges are so significant that I believe the civil penalty we impose should be greater than $25,000 in totality,” board member Dr. Robert Green said. “This is a very significant case.”
According to statute, the board can impose a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation. The board will meet again in the future to decide upon an appropriate penalty.
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