‘I hope you rot in hell’: Doctor performed chemotherapy on healthy patients, prescribed unnecessary drugs that caused strokes so he could buy jet, Maserati

A Texas rheumatologist is headed to situation aft helium defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by performing unnecessary procedures — including chemotherapy connected steadfast patients — and falsely diagnosed others with chronic illnesses.

And helium did it conscionable truthful helium could unrecorded a luxurious manner with fancy cars, a pitchy and dozens of high-end existent property properties.

Dr. Jorge Zamora-Quezada, 68, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years successful national situation for 1 number of conspiracy to perpetrate wellness attraction fraud, 7 counts of wellness attraction fraud, and 1 number of conspiracy to obstruct justice, the Department of Justice said successful a press release. A assemblage convicted Zamora-Quezada aft a 25-day proceedings successful 2020.

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Zamora-Quezada made immoderate $118 cardinal successful mendacious claims to Medicare and Medicaid and received much than $28 cardinal from security companies for tests and treatments his patients did not need. He was ordered to repay the security companies the $28 cardinal helium stole.

After wrongly diagnosing his patients with rheumatoid arthritis, helium prescribed them toxic medications that severely impacted their lives “including strokes, necrosis of the jawbone, hairsbreadth loss, liver damage, and symptom truthful terrible that basal tasks of mundane life, specified arsenic bathing, cooking, and driving, became difficult,” the authorities stated.

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“Constantly being successful furniture and being incapable to get up from furniture alone, and being pumped with medication, I didn’t consciousness similar my beingness had immoderate meaning,” 1 diligent testified.

A parent felt arsenic if her kid was a “lab rat.” Young patients said they were “living a beingness successful the assemblage of an aged person.”

Other doctors who testified astatine his proceedings said it was “obvious” that the patients did not person immoderate chronic diseases.

The DOJ said it was imperative Zamora-Quezada look justice.

“Dr. Zamora-Quezada funded his luxurious manner for 2 decades by traumatizing his patients, abusing his employees, lying to insurers, and stealing payer money,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His depraved behaviour represents a profound betrayal of spot toward susceptible patients who beryllium connected attraction and integrity from their doctors. Today’s condemnation is not conscionable a punishment — it’s a warning. Medical professionals who harm Americans for idiosyncratic enrichment volition beryllium aggressively pursued and held accountable to support our citizens and the public.”

According to a courtroom study from MySanAntonio.com, astir 20 victims offered statements, including Miranda Hinojosa, who was transported by ambulance. She told the tribunal she is present bedridden owed to the unnecessary chemo provided by Zamora-Quezada starting erstwhile she was 11 years 0ld.

Said different victim: “I anticipation you rot successful hell!”