COLUMBUS, Ohio - An East Palestine physician is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to hear an appeal of his medical license suspension.

The Ohio Medical Board ordered a one-year license suspension for Dr. Christopher Seman in 2018 for alleged sexual misconduct with a co-worker.

Dr. Seman challenged the suspension court, continuing to practice medicine as he pursued his appeal.

After losing cases in Franklin County Common Pleas Court and the Tenth District Court of Appeals, Seman is now asking the Ohio Supreme Court to hear his case, claiming he was put on “trial by surprise” violating his right to due process.

According to a report from the medical board, Dr. Seman began having a sexual relationship with a coworker in 2013. During testimony, the woman told the Medical Board that Dr. Seman asked her if she intended to leave her marriage.

The report says the affair continued for approximately 18 months until the spring of 2015.

The woman testified that they "carried on their affair" at their offices, homes, the Canfield Fairgrounds, the Boardman Holiday Inn, Julie's Bed and Breakfast in Hubbard, the Buhl Mansion, and other locations.

Just months after the sexual relationship allegedly began, Dr. Seman prescribed the woman birth control medication, according to board documents.

The State Medical Board says over the course of their relationship, Dr. Seman wrote several prescriptions for the woman.

The woman said she became pregnant, at which point Dr. Seman testified that he told his wife about the affair and pregnancy, according to the board.

Dr. Seman "self-reported" the relationship in March of 2015 a short time after learning about the pregnancy according to board findings.

According to State Medical Board records, Dr. Seman had six children at the time of the affair and was married.

The Medical Board determined that the conduct merited an indefinite suspension of his medical license. Dr. Seman can apply to have his license reinstated after one year.