NEW ORLEANS - A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction and sentence of a Louisiana cardiologist found guilty of performing medically unnecessary heart procedures.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed the 10-year sentence given to Dr. Mehmood Patel, who owned Acadiana Cardiology and had privileges at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and Lafayette General Medical Center.
A jury in December 2008 convicted Patel of 51 counts of health care fraud but acquitted him of 40 other counts.
Prosecutors say he lied to patients about their medical conditions, performed risky tests and procedures, falsified medical records to make them appear justified and then fraudulently billed insurance companies for the work.