Dr. Ramtin Kassir, a triple board-certified facial plastic surgeon practicing in New York City and Ridgewood, New Jersey, has been sued for medical malpractice at least twice. The most prominent action, brought by patient Arevik Khurdayan in 2017 over a nasal surgery and allegedly forged consent forms, ended in January 2024 when a New York appellate court dismissed every remaining claim. A second suit, filed by Abby Ayoub in 2021, is still pending.
What the Khurdayan Case Alleged
In February 2016, Arevik Khurdayan paid $13,500 for a septorhinoplasty performed by Kassir. The procedure was meant to correct both cosmetic concerns and breathing problems caused by a deviated septum. Khurdayan later said the surgery did not fix her breathing and that Kassir had performed only the cosmetic portion, skipping the therapeutic septoplasty she had requested. In January 2019, a different surgeon, Dr. Lloyd Loft, operated to correct the deviated septum and related sinus issues.1NY Courts. Khurdayan v. Kassir, Index No. 159480/2017
Her 2017 complaint, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, raised medical malpractice, breach of contract, lack of informed consent, and fraud based on alleged forgery of consent forms.2Justia. Khurdayan v. Kassir, 2024 NY Slip Op 00355
The Forgery Claim
Khurdayan alleged that the signatures and initials on multiple electronic informed consent forms had been forged. She said the signatures did not resemble her own and looked identical to those of a nurse on other forms. Court papers also noted that the initials read “RR” rather than her actual initials, “AK,” and that the same electronic signature appeared across multiple signature lines, including fields for nurses and anesthesiologists.1NY Courts. Khurdayan v. Kassir, Index No. 159480/2017
Kassir’s side blamed a software problem. Dr. Masoud Mojarradi, an administrator for the practice, testified that he watched Khurdayan sign the electronic pad and that a “linkage issue” in the software copied her signature onto other fields.1NY Courts. Khurdayan v. Kassir, Index No. 159480/2017
How the Courts Ruled
In June 2020, Justice Joan Madden dismissed several claims, including deceptive business practices, fraudulent inducement, unjust enrichment, and promissory estoppel. She allowed four to proceed: breach of contract, medical malpractice, lack of informed consent, and fraud based on the alleged forgery. In December 2022, Justice John J. Kelley denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, keeping those claims alive.1NY Courts. Khurdayan v. Kassir, Index No. 159480/2017
On January 25, 2024, the Appellate Division, First Department, unanimously reversed and granted summary judgment for Kassir and his co-defendants, dismissing every remaining claim.2Justia. Khurdayan v. Kassir, 2024 NY Slip Op 00355 The court addressed each surviving claim.
On medical malpractice, the court held that Khurdayan’s argument that the septoplasty was incomplete or incompetent was a new theory raised for the first time in opposition to summary judgment and should not have been considered. Her expert also failed to meaningfully respond to the defense expert on whether the surgery caused her continuing breathing problems.2Justia. Khurdayan v. Kassir, 2024 NY Slip Op 00355
On breach of contract, the court found no evidence that Kassir had promised a specific outcome. Khurdayan admitted in her deposition that the defendants had only promised to address breathing issues caused by her deviated septum and had not guaranteed a particular result. Her breathing was ultimately resolved by another surgeon operating on nasal areas outside the scope of Kassir’s procedure.3FindLaw. Khurdayan v. Ramtin Kassir, M.D., et al.
On informed consent, the court noted that even setting aside the disputed pre-operative forms, Khurdayan had signed consent forms on the day of surgery and acknowledged that Kassir had discussed risks during at least two prior visits. She also did not claim she would have declined the surgery had she been given additional information.2Justia. Khurdayan v. Kassir, 2024 NY Slip Op 00355
On the forgery claim, the court did not decide whether the electronic signatures were forged or the product of a software error. It ruled that either way, Khurdayan had not shown any prejudice, because she had given informed consent through other means. Punitive damages, which rested on the forgery theory, fell with it.2Justia. Khurdayan v. Kassir, 2024 NY Slip Op 00355
No settlement was reached and no trial took place. The case ended with the appellate ruling.
The Second Lawsuit: Ayoub v. Kassir
A separate malpractice action, Ayoub v. Kassir (Index No. 805237/2021), was filed in New York County Supreme Court by patient Abby Ayoub. It also names Dr. Jeremy Frederick, Lenox Hill Hospital, and Northwell Health, Inc. Ayoub alleged departures from accepted medical practice and lack of informed consent. Available court records do not specify what procedure she underwent.4NY Courts. Ayoub v. Kassir, 2026 NY Slip Op 31141(U)
In December 2025, Ayoub voluntarily discontinued the action against the Northwell defendants, and a March 2026 court order formalized that dismissal with prejudice. No money changed hands, and the court noted Kassir could still potentially seek contribution from the Northwell defendants. As of that March 2026 ruling, the case remains active against Kassir and Frederick.4NY Courts. Ayoub v. Kassir, 2026 NY Slip Op 31141(U)
Who Dr. Kassir Is
Kassir holds board certifications from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology, and the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He earned his medical degree and completed an otolaryngology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, followed by a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of South Florida.5DrKassir.com. Dr. Kassir He has been in private practice since 1997, with offices in Manhattan and Ridgewood, New Jersey, and previously chaired the Department of Otolaryngology at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Wayne, New Jersey.6IMCAS. Dr. Ramtin Ronald Kassir He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is affiliated with Lenox Hill Hospital.