Lafayette, LA, cardiologist Mehmood Patel faces 91 counts of health-care fraud after a 2003 federal investigation and February 2006 indictment accuses him of performing what
prosecutors and their witnesses have called "medically unnecessary
procedures." The Advertiser reports:
The investigation stemmed from allegations that Patel was placing stents and performing unnecessary coronary intervention procedures for money... Throughout the case, prosecutors have accused Patel of putting information on patient charts despite what patients told him during initial doctor's visits.
Prosecution expert witnesses testified earlier that a female patient had little blockage in her arteries, thus eliminating the need for a stent and angioplasty procedures he performed.
