Late on Nov. 13, the Department of Justice filed a complaint that alleges former Sanford Health neurosurgeon Wilson Asfora, MD, profited from performing "aggressive, unnecessary surgeries" and implanting devices from a company he had ownership in, according to the Argus Leader.
Four key notes:
1. The Sioux Falls, S.D.-based health system paid more than $20 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit in October over the alleged anti-kickback violation. Now, the federal government is alleging Dr. Asfora performed unnecessary surgeries at both Sanford Medical Center and Sioux Falls (S.D.) Specialty Hospital.
2. The federal complaint also alleges that patients were harmed by the unnecessary procedures, including patients that were paralyzed or had wrong-site procedures.
3. Dr. Asfora received warnings that he was performing excessive, aggressive and unnecessary procedures, according to the complaint, which included warnings from other medical professionals as well as Dr. Asfora's lawyers.
4. Dr. Asfora attempted to hide his ownership of the medical device company from both hospitals, according to the complaint.