$15 million settlement reached in Texas federal court over medical misconduct at Houston medical centers

The recent $15 million settlement in a Texas federal court has shed light on shocking allegations of medical misconduct at Houston medical centers. Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, and Surgical Associates of Texas P.A. have agreed to pay the settlement over claims that they allowed unqualified medical residents to perform heart surgeries and ran multiple operating rooms simultaneously.

According to federal prosecutors, the wrongdoing occurred between June 2013 and December 2020. The allegations involve prominent physicians such as Dr. Joseph Coselli and Dr. Joseph Lamelas, who are accused of performing “hundreds of simultaneous overlapping surgeries.” Dr. Lamelas allegedly wrote on medical records that he performed procedures that were physically impossible to do, as he was getting paid per procedure.

Dr. David Ott, a cardiothoracic surgeon affiliated with Surgical Associates of Texas P.A., is also named in the court records for his involvement in the misconduct. The investigation into the matter began in 2019 when a whistleblower reported that the doctors were running two operating rooms at once and delegating key aspects of complex heart surgeries to unqualified residents.

The settlement has sparked outrage and raised concerns about patient safety. U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani emphasized the importance of following Medicare regulations to ensure surgeon presence during procedures. The private whistleblower who reported the allegations will receive over $3 million from the settlement under the False Claims Act.

Baylor College of Medicine has denied any wrongdoing in a statement, stating that they did not violate any federal laws and that no patients were harmed. The settlement agreement, however, does not admit liability on Baylor’s part. The medical centers involved have decided to settle the dispute to avoid further costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the medical field, where patients entrust their lives to healthcare providers. The settlement highlights the need for strict adherence to regulations to ensure patient safety and prevent misconduct in medical practices.