New York Doctor Charged With Fraud Over Eye Surgery on Mentally Ill

Dr. Shaul Debbi, an ophthalmologist who allegedly performed "unnecessary" eye surgery on mentally ill residents of adult homes in New York City, surrendered on May 23 to federal authorities on a charge of health care fraud, the New York Times reports. Debbi reportedly performed about 50 eye operations on more than 30 residents of the Leben Home in Queens in 1999 and 2000, procedures that cost the government about $25,000, the Times reports. Federal prosecutors began the investigation into Debbi -- "one facet of separate, wide-ranging inquiries" into adult homes in New York City -- after an article published last month in a three-part Times series on problems in the homes "detailed" Debbi's treatment of residents. After the April 30 article appeared, Debbi went to Israel, where he also holds citizenship. The FBI issued a warrant for his arrest on May 10. Prosecutors charged Debbi with one count of health care fraud, punishable by a maximum 20-year prison sentence, and said that they expected to add more counts to the complaint. Debbi did not enter a plea at a hearing held on May 23. James Comey, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said in a statement that the complaint against Debbi sends "a clear message that doctors who are entrusted to provide sound medical care for their patients -- including the mentally ill -- will be vigorously prosecuted for their efforts to profit from performing unnecessary procedures" (Levy, New York Times, 5/24).