Doctor gets "probation" for fraud - Unbelievable S

by mega » Fri Feb 01, 2008 08:41 pm
Posts: 118
Joined: 23 Jan 2008

I find this story unbelievable. I mean I don't doubt that it is true but I can not imagine the sentence plus this quote made by his attorney:

"We are very happy with the judge's decision," Samuel said. "This doctor is an incredibly compassionate man who's helped countless people who had incurable cancers and whose children had terminal diseases. He provided hope."



The story is that this Doctor Shanthaveerappa was injecting his patients with Dinitrophenol (DNP) ( weed killer) and then billing the insurance companies for treatment of their cancer and terminal illness to the tune of $650.000.

The article says, "none of them were hurt and the doctor stopped after treating 5 patients".

Dr. Shanthaveerappa repays the $650K, gets credit for this 400 in home confinment and probation. Amazing.

The U.S. Attorney Says:

U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said Shanthaveerappa "posed a threat to the public health, safety and welfare by treating patients with unapproved procedures and drugs. He then submitted bills to the patient's insurance companies that disguised and mischaracterized the types of treatments and drugs he actually used."

Total Comments: 8

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:59 am Post Subject:

So let me get this right, he injects people with weed killer, a poison, which was never tested on humans, nor was ever used as a remedy, bills insurance as though he treated them for cancer, and just gets probation?

He should be struck off and thrown in jail for that. He put those patients lives at risk, the complete opposite of what a doctor is meant to do. Shame there is that double-jeopardy clause in the law, we could probably throw him in front of a more reasonable judge. People have been locked up for less.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 05:02 am Post Subject: healthcare units

People have been locked up for less.


Obviously! I've seen health-care units getting penalized for charging more from the insurance companies in the form of additional health-care expenses towards their patients, but at least the patients have got those benefits (its different that they could have done without those benefits).
Thanks, LessCondo

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 05:09 am Post Subject: please share

Hi,
Thats truly an article which teaches us to be careful from even doctors, as the medical profession ceases to be that noble profession anymore.

The article says, "none of them were hurt and the doctor stopped after treating 5 patients".

Please do share what might have happened to the patients there on...& what steps they might take on the doctor for his acts.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 02:51 am Post Subject:

So are these patients suing him now, they should be!

This guy should have gotten more than probation that is for sure.

It is a wonder these people did not get really sick from this stuff. It is toxic right?

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 06:18 am Post Subject:

Don't understand any of it. The names sound foreign even made up to me. In my small town there were a drs office beside the one I take my children to who were charging medicare for treatments never performed on their patience.Ity had been going on for years too. It happens more than we know.Greed is what it is..Drs make enough money without cheating .

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:22 am Post Subject:

I guess if the opportunity is there, it doesn't matter who you are, if the situation is right, and they need the money they will take that opportunity at any risk.

Unfortunately, it is the rest of us that pay when this fraud happens, when you look at all the people who can't afford and don't have insurance, cases like this come to mind and they talk about fraudulant malpractice suits by patience, this is right up there too in my books.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 06:13 pm Post Subject:

Thats one example how the rich, get richer, I guess. People who have a good career jeopardize it for greed.

Add your comment

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.