Virginia Hospital, Leaders Sued for Enabling Unnecessary Care

Hundreds of mostly Black, poor women enrolled in Medicaid are suing a Virginia hospital and its leaders, alleging they enabled a medical staff physician to provide unnecessary medical treatments in order to defraud federal health programs.

The named plaintiffs, led by Terrika Abram, sued Chesapeake Hospital Authority and three current and former hospital executives in the Virginia Circuit Court for Chesapeake City on Monday, alleging they allowed obstetrician/gynecologist Javaid Perwaiz to perform harmful, invasive, unlawful, and life-altering medical procedures—including sterilizations—over a nine-year period, despite repeated complaints and evidence of his misconduct.

The plaintiffs are seeking at least $10 million per ...