A federal judge ruled last week that Dr. Mehmood Patel would be allowed to remain free while pursuing further legal challenges of his 2009 health care fraud conviction. Patel was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of 51 counts of health care fraud.
Patel’s most recent appeal was denied by the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals last week; however, Patel lucked out when U.S. Circuit Judge Leslie Southwick ruled that he could remain free while he pursued other legal action, according to The Advertiser.
Patel was allowed to remain free after his attorney, Amy Adelson, made an apparently convincing argument to the court. According to Adelson, Patel should be allowed to remain free due to the fact that there are “very substantial legal issues remaining in this close and difficult case.” Patel plans to continue to fight for his innocence and plans to ask the entire 5th Circuit court to rehear his case. Should his case be denied yet again, he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. Patel’s case is bizarre in that he has been continued to be allowed freedom despite being a convicted felon and having already had an appeal denied. The lawyers for the Justice Department are infuriated as they do not see what separates Patel from any other convicted felon.
Patel was convicted in Federal Court on 51 of 91 counts of federal health care fraud. Patel allegedly performed several unnecessary stents and angioplasties. For these unnecessary heart procedures, he billed private insurers and the government over $2 million, according to reports. Additionally, as a result of Patel’s allegedly unnecessary procedures, several Lafayette, LA area hospitals were forced to pay $15 million in medical malpractice cases from patients and the Justice Department for False Claims Acts.
Unnecessary heart
procedures should
never be taken lightly. An unnecessary procedure on the heart can result
in severe injury or even death. If you or someone you love has been the
victim of an unnecessary heart procedure, do not hesitate to contact
Morgan and Morgan today to learn more about your potential legal
rights.
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