La Jolla Doctor Sentenced to Probation, Required to Pay over $2 million in Fines For Purchasing Misbranded Cancer Medication
A La Jolla oncologist, Doctor Joel I. Bernstein, has pled guilty to charges he purchased unapproved foreign cancer medications and defrauded Medicare by claiming credit for the drugs as if they were genuine. On Tuesday July 2nd, Bernstein was sentenced to one year of probation, and required to pay over $2 million in fines and penalties for the false claims made against Medicare. Bernstein admitted that he administered drugs that were not FDA approved to patients.
Who: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigation (FDA-OCI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
When: July 2, 2013, 2007-2011.
Where:La Jolla, California. U.S.A.
How:FDA-OCI and FBI Investigation.
Additional details: Bernstein admitted that he knew the drugs were not approved for use in the United States. He also admitted that he submitted claims for payment to Medicare identifying the drugs as U.S. approved.
Related sources:
" LOCAL ONCOLOGY PRACTICE SENTENCED TO PAY MILLIONS FOR MEDICARE FRAUD," U.S. Department of Justice Press Release. June 28, 2013.
" No jail for cancer doc in drug fraud,"U-T San Diego. July 2, 2013.