Dr. G. Steven Kooshian was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on charges of deliberately underdosing HIV/AIDS and hepatitis patients and billing insurance companies for the full amount of expensive medications, including Epogen for anemia, interferon for Kaposi's sarcoma, and immunogammaglobulin for numbness of the hands and feet. He was accused of administering half or quarter doses of medications, or substituting saline solutions. The indictment said the doctor bilked insurance companies and Medicare out of $1.2 million between 1995-2001. Kooshian operated clinics in Orange and Los Angeles counties. The doctor's former medical technician, Virgil Opinion, was also charged. Opinion went public with allegations against the doctor in 2001, triggering an FBI and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigation.

Back to other news for July 21, 2005

Search the Newsroom archive