An cardiologist of Indian-American origin, got arrested in Nevada, USA. He was charged for unlawful distribution of prescription opioids as well as healthcare fraud.
The accused identified as Dr Devendra Patel, appeared before a federal court today, in Reno city, Nevada. In total Dr. Patel has been charged with 36 counts of distribution of controlled substances like oxycodone and hydrocodone, and also three-counts of health care fraud.
The maximum penalty for distribution of a controlled substance is 10 years in prison, and as for the healthcare fraud, the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison.
In a period between May 2014 to September 2017, Dr. Patel routinely prescribed his patients opioids like fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone without a legitimate or well established medical purpose. He was also accused for fraudulently billing Medicare and Medicaid for medical tests that he did not even perform.
Also Read: EB 5 Visa Scheme Known as the Golden Visa to US Gets December 22 Extension
Federal prosecutors alleged that Dr. Patel performed Electrocardiograms on his patients, so he could then order nuclear stress tests which he did not administer.
The indictment further alleged that he allegedly used a tampered and poorly calibrated machine and gave his patients wrong and fraudulent X-rays, so that his patients were made to think that they had coronary issues that needed to be treated by him.
As informed by the Acting US Attorney Steven Myhre “Dr. Patel is the first person to be charged in Nevada since the formation of the Justice Department’s Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit,”.
Mr. Aaron Rouse, FBI Special Agent in Charge said, “Despite his physician’s oath to do no harm, Dr Patel recklessly prescribed opioids, for no legitimate medical purpose,”
Of the approximate 64,000 Americans that died from drug overdoses in 2016, the majority of deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl.
