Ask anyone about the hippocratic oath, and most people will parrot back the phrase, “Do no harm.” However, while it may come as a surprise to you, this phrase doesn’t actually appear anywhere in the Hippocratic oath. In addition, the oath itself is not actually required for a doctor to practice medicine. Some hospitals and private practices require that doctors swear this oath, while some use a modern version, and others require no oath at all.
While Dr. Aria Sabit might not have sworn an oath to “do no harm” to his patients, the law is very specific about what he is and isn’t allowed to do when it comes to healthcare fraud. According to federal court records here in Michigan, Sabit is accused of performing multiple unnecessary spinal surgeries on patients, leaving some of them permanently injured and disabled, as part of an extensive fraud scheme. Dr. Sabit pled guilty to federal charges of fraud and conspiracy.
Fourteen of Dr. Sabit’s former patients appeared before Federal Judge Paul Borman to share their stories. Federal prosecutors referred to Sabit’s surgical operation, many of which were left incomplete or incorrectly performed, as “butchery.” They also claimed that Dr. Sabit collected kickbacks from implant manufacturers. Some of his former patients told the judge that since their surgeries performed by Aria Sabit, they are in constant pain and have difficulty with even the most mundane daily tasks.
In addition to the questionable surgeries and kickbacks, Dr. Sabit admitted to federal investigators that he had performed incomplete surgeries and then dictated into his operative notes that he had performed “spinal fusion” surgeries with instrumentation, when in fact he had not. These notes, he admitted, would later be used to submit fraudulent insurance claims for his own financial gain.
Fraudulent surgeries and falsifying insurance claims didn’t only happen in Michigan!
According to law enforcement, Dr. Sabit worked in California at Community Memorial Hospital, where he later admitted harming some of his patients, accepting kickbacks and committing insurance fraud. Almost 30 of his patients sued him for malpractice as a result. He later surrendered his medical license in California and in 2011 he moved to Michigan. Once here, Dr. Sabit opened the Michigan Brain and and Spine Physicians Group, which has offices in Southfield, Dearborn and Clinton Township.
Another issue that has been raised during the investigation into Dr. Sabit’s healthcare fraud allegations is the fact that he allegedly obtained U.S. citizenship illegally in 2013. This is a result of not disclosing the fraud allegations against him during his citizenship application process. All in all, Dr. Sabit’s greedy fraud scheme netted him over $2.8 million. Dr. Sabit is now known as Inmate Sabit.
Sabit was denied bail after his arrest, as the prosecutors argued that he was a flight risk. He remained in detention until his sentencing by Judge Borman in the United States District Court, Eastern District, in Detroit. There, Judge Borman ordered that Sabit will spend 19 years in federal prison.
Healthcare fraud is a serious allegation, whether the charges are brought by county or state prosecutors here in Michigan, or by federal prosecutors. If you or a loved one have been accused of insurance fraud, medical fraud, or health care fraud, contact our offices immediately. The trial attorneys at The Kronzek Firm have the right combination of trial skills, medical litigation, and auditing knowledge to assist people facing prosecution for crimes related to health care. We can help you with this. Our team can be reached at 1 866-766-5245.