Judge OKs $7.4M settlement for U.S. Patients Who Said They Had Unnecessary Heart Procedures

Mike Simon

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A Louisiana hospital agreed to pay $7.4 million to settle its part of a class action suit accusing a cardiologist of doing unnecessary angioplasties and other procedures. Half of the amount will be shared by 305 former patients and the rest will pay litigation costs and attorneys' fees in the suit against Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.

The attorneys are still seeking damages from the cardiologist himself, Dr. Mehmood M. Patel, and Lafayette General Medical Center, where he also practiced.

Patel charged in federal court with billing Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies $2.5 million for unnecessary procedures on 77 patients- denies the allegations. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.