Leslie Turk

Deliberations continue in Patel trial

by Leslie Turk

Jury deliberations continue today in the federal trial of Dr. Mehmood Patel, a local cardiologist accused of performing unnecessary heart procedures for financial gain. Closing arguments were Tuesday, and the case went to the jury Wednesday, but no verdict was reached.

Patel faces 91 counts of health-care fraud for allegedly billing the government and private insurers for medically unnecessary surgeries from 2001 to 2004.