RADNOR, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania doctor is under the microscope after a United States Attorney said he and his entities performed unnecessary procedures that increased the risk of leg amputation and billed Medicare more than $6.5 million dollars.
Dr. James McGukin, of Radnor, an interventional radiologist, and his practice entities, are accused of performing these procedures on over 500 patients from January 2016 to December 2019, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Jacqueline C. Romero said.
The allegations of unnecessary vascular procedures include unnecessary angioplasty, atherectomy, and the placement of stents, as well as the indiscriminate use of intravenous ultrasound.
These procedures require puncturing the skin and inserting devices into and through the arteries in patients’ legs. As the relevant standards of care indicate, unnecessary invasive vascular procedures may cause harm to patients’ health, including increasing their likelihood of needing future procedures and putting them at greater risk of leg amputations.
“Performing medically unnecessary procedures puts patients at risk and contributes to the soaring costs of health care, especially the invasive vascular procedures alleged in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “As this litigation demonstrates, we are committed to safeguarding federal health care program beneficiaries and protecting public...
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