A Connecticut Department of Correction doctor repeatedly engaged in behavior that compromised patient care, according to an investigation released on Wednesday by the Correction Ombuds’ office.
The report concludes that DOC failed to adequately carry out and follow up on internal investigations regarding the doctor, Francesco Lupis, since his hiring in 2020. And it states that DOC officials could not provide any documentation to show that Lupis, who was not board certified, was in compliance with the state’s required qualifications for the role.
The findings come amidst widespread reports from people incarcerated about lacking medical care within DOC facilities. A March 2026 report catalogued “systemic deficiencies” in access to medical and mental healthcare, particularly outpatient specialty services.
Correction Ombuds DeVaughn Ward said in an interview that the findings regarding Lupis continue to raise questions about the quality of healthcare DOC provides.
“All of this information puts into question whether or not the agency is meeting its obligation to provide care at the community level standard,” Ward said. “Certainly someone like this would have trouble being employed in a community healthcare setting.”
Over his six years with DOC, Lupis was named as a defendant in 27 federal lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut by people who had resided in DOC facilities. Allegations included delayed specialty care, medication management and medical accommodations. One of those cases resulted in a $50,000 settlement.
Lupis earned a projected annual salary of roughly $260,000 as of 2026, according to figures published by the Office of the State Comptroller.
DOC spokesperson Andrius Benevicius confirmed Lupis has been placed on paid administrative leave pending further review.
“The Connecticut Department of Correction takes its responsibility to provide quality health care to individuals in our custody seriously,” Banevicius said. “We will continue to review our policies, practices, and oversight mechanisms to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and accountable health care throughout the correctional system.”
Lupis could not be reached for comment.
The report found that the department could not confirm whether Lupis was compliant with board certification requirements.
Lupis did not have current board certification, but DOC policy does not require that doctors have board certification when they are hired. However, they must obtain it within five years, and Lupis was hired in 2020.
Doctors who do not obtain board certification can fulfill the requirement by successfully completing an “established agency competency program.” DOC did not have documentation of Lupis’ completion of the program, leading investigators to conclude that “compliance with the staff physician qualification requirements therefore remains unresolved.”
The report outlined problematic behavior towards both patients and colleagues, including allegations that Lupis yelled at patients, disregarded medical histories and inappropriately discontinued or reduced medication.
Ward said one of the findings that most alarmed him was an incident in Lupis’s personal life. In November 2022, Lupis was arrested for yelling and cursing at his son, retrieving an axe and threatening him, according to the report. At the time, Lupis stated he did not intend to injure his son or break down a door. DOC investigated the incident and Lupis received formal counseling in February 2023, the report said.
DOC launched six internal investigations related to complaints about Lupis’ conduct. The ombuds report found that some of these investigations suffered significant delays and the agency was not able to provide records establishing that recommended corrective measures were actually taken.
Lupis’ alleged problematic behavior was well documented before DOC hired him in 2020. Massachusetts denied Lupis a medical license in 2013, citing his prior professional conduct. In 2017, Florida allowed him to relinquish his license provided he agreed “never again to apply for licensure as a physician in the State of Florida,” the report said.
Lead investigator for the Ombuds office Amy Zipf said she could not confirm whether DOC officials were aware of the Massachusetts denial when they hired Lupis, but said she was able to obtain the information by sending an email.
DOC officials have in the past blamed delays in care to staffing shortages, as well as issues with recruitment and retention. Zipf acknowledged the difficulty of recruiting physicians but noted that shortages shouldn’t result in hiring of physicians with patterns of problematic behavior.
“It’s probably hard to hire and keep other healthcare professionals who are expected to work alongside someone whose behavior is like this,” Zipf said.
Ward gave DOC credit for placing Lupis on leave following the report.
“That is the highest hope when we issue these reports. It really is to try to spur action on the part of the department. And to their credit, they did take the substance of the report seriously and take immediate action,” Ward said.
