NORFOLK, Va. – A former Chesapeake physician was sentenced as we speak to 59 years in jail after a jury convicted him on 52 counts of well being care fraud and different prices arising from his efficiency of irreversible hysterectomies, improper sterilizations, and different medically pointless surgical procedures and procedures on his sufferers over a decade.
Based on court docket data and proof introduced at trial and at sentencing, Javaid Perwaiz, roughly 71 years previous, an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) who practiced in Hampton Roads because the Nineteen Eighties, executed a scheme to defraud medical health insurance packages between at the very least 2010 and 2019. Throughout that interval, Perwaiz induced roughly $20.8 million {dollars} in losses to non-public and authorities well being care insurers for irreversible hysterectomies and different surgical procedures and procedures that weren’t medically crucial for his sufferers. In lots of cases, Perwaiz would falsely inform his sufferers that they wanted the surgical procedures as a result of that they had most cancers, or to keep away from most cancers, in an effort to induce them to comply with the surgical procedures. Lots of the surgical procedures occurred inside days of the false diagnoses.
“Motivated by his insatiable and reprehensible greed, Perwaiz used an arsenal of horrifying ways to control and deceive sufferers into present process invasive, pointless, and devastating medical procedures,” stated Raj Parekh, Appearing U.S. Lawyer for the Japanese District of Virginia. “These fraudulent and damaging surgical procedures induced irreversible injury to the victims. In lots of cases, the defendant shattered their capability to have youngsters by utilizing worry to take away organs from their our bodies that he had no proper to take. Regardless of having to endure immeasurable bodily and emotional ache, the victims confirmed resilience, energy, and braveness by talking out and sharing their tales to carry the defendant accountable for his heinous crimes. Whereas no prosecution can undo the lifelong trauma that Perwaiz cruelly inflicted on his sufferers, as we speak’s sentence ensures that the victims and their households have the final phrase.”
“This particular person not solely defrauded our healthcare system out of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, he did so by performing pointless surgical procedures on girls and placing their well being and security in danger,” stated Mark R. Herring, Lawyer Normal of Virginia. “Docs ought to by no means benefit from the belief that their sufferers put in them, and people who do must be held accountable. I wish to thank my staff for his or her laborious work on this case and I additionally wish to thank our native, state, and federal companions for his or her ongoing collaboration and partnership on this and different vital circumstances.”
“As we speak’s sentence is a major step towards justice for the ladies Perwaiz preyed upon and harmed by means of his deception, betrayal, and greed,” stated Brian Dugan, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI’s Norfolk Subject Workplace. “The FBI is dedicated to stopping predators like Perwaiz who abuse their place of belief, however this consequence was finally made attainable by the courageous victims and nurses who deserve our gratitude for coming ahead and exposing his horrible legal conduct.”
“When unscrupulous healthcare suppliers similar to Perwaiz put greed above affected person care, they not solely violate public belief, they stain the career.” stated Christopher W. Dillard, Particular Agent in Cost of the Protection Legal Investigative Service’s Mid-Atlantic Subject Workplace. “DCIS is dedicated to working alongside our investigative companions in rooting out legal malpractice and bringing to justice those that put the general public and group in danger.”
The proof additionally demonstrated that Perwaiz falsified data for his obstetric sufferers in order that he might induce their labor early, previous to the really useful gestational age that minimizes danger to the mom and child, to make sure he can be reimbursed for the deliveries. Perwaiz additionally violated the 30-day ready interval Medicaid requires for elective sterilizations by submitting backdated varieties to falsely make it seem as if he had complied with the ready interval. Perwaiz billed insurance coverage a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} for diagnostic procedures that he solely pretended to carry out at his workplace.
The witnesses at trial included greater than 25 former sufferers, a few of whom testified to the problems they proceed to endure because of the pointless surgical procedures Perwaiz carried out. As well as, the Court docket acquired over 60 Sufferer Affect Statements and the FBI acquired a whole lot of suggestions by means of its hotline regarding Perwaiz’s actions. Witnesses additionally included nurses who labored on the hospitals the place Perwaiz carried out his surgical procedures, who testified that they repeatedly complained about his practices to their supervisors.
On November 9, 2020, a federal jury convicted Perwaiz of 52 counts of well being care fraud and false statements. In complete, Perwaiz was answerable for $20.8 million price of false and fraudulent billings for each himself and the hospitals the place he carried out the surgical procedures.
Raj Parekh, Appearing U.S. Lawyer for the Japanese District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Lawyer Normal of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI’s Norfolk Subject Workplace; Chris Dillard, Particular Agent in Cost for the Protection Legal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Subject Workplace; and Maureen R. Dixon, Particular Agent in Cost of the Workplace of Inspector Normal for the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Choose Rebecca Seashore Smith.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Yusi, E. Rebecca Gantt, and John F. Butler prosecuted the case.
A replica of this press launch is situated on the web site of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Japanese District of Virginia. Associated court docket paperwork and knowledge are situated on the web site of the District Court for the Japanese District of Virginia or on PACER by trying to find Case No. 2:19-cr-189.
