A West Des Moines, Iowa urologist has been fined $5,000 by the Iowa Board of Medicine and is not permitted to practice general surgery after being accused of poor record-keeping and doing "overly aggressive" operations, according to a Des Moines Register news report.
In 2008, Fawad Zafar, MD, was accused by the board of performing unnecessary and expensive procedures on patients. A panel of three physicians from the board found that Dr. Zafar's urology practice was medically sound, concluding that he may continue to practice urology.
However, the board found in some breast-cancer cases, Dr. Zafar performed invasive surgeries to treat patients when non-invasive treatment would have been sufficient. Dr. Zafar said the hospital where he had privileges to perform surgery did not have the necessary equipment to perform less invasive surgeries. Despite his claim, the board discovered the equipment was readily available at hospitals where Dr. Zafar did not have privileges to practice. In those cases, he could have sent the patients to those hospitals but would have lost money, the board said. Consequently, Dr. Zafar was ordered to not practice general surgery.
In addition to not being permitted to practice general surgery, Dr. Zafar must take a record-keeping course.
Read the Des Moines Register news report about Dr. Fawad Zafar's general surgery practices.
Read other coverage about unnecessary procedures:
- Indiana Anesthesiologist and State Attorney General Office Agree to Suspend Medical License, Federal Trial Still Pending
- Unnamed Maryland Hospital Under Investigation for Possibly Performing Unnecessary Procedures
In 2008, Fawad Zafar, MD, was accused by the board of performing unnecessary and expensive procedures on patients. A panel of three physicians from the board found that Dr. Zafar's urology practice was medically sound, concluding that he may continue to practice urology.
However, the board found in some breast-cancer cases, Dr. Zafar performed invasive surgeries to treat patients when non-invasive treatment would have been sufficient. Dr. Zafar said the hospital where he had privileges to perform surgery did not have the necessary equipment to perform less invasive surgeries. Despite his claim, the board discovered the equipment was readily available at hospitals where Dr. Zafar did not have privileges to practice. In those cases, he could have sent the patients to those hospitals but would have lost money, the board said. Consequently, Dr. Zafar was ordered to not practice general surgery.
In addition to not being permitted to practice general surgery, Dr. Zafar must take a record-keeping course.
Read the Des Moines Register news report about Dr. Fawad Zafar's general surgery practices.
Read other coverage about unnecessary procedures:
- Indiana Anesthesiologist and State Attorney General Office Agree to Suspend Medical License, Federal Trial Still Pending
- Unnamed Maryland Hospital Under Investigation for Possibly Performing Unnecessary Procedures