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Old 11-04-2009, 05:29 PM
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Jeanfromfillmore Jeanfromfillmore is offline
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Default L.A. doctor arrested for falsifying immigration health exams

L.A. doctor arrested for falsifying immigration health exams
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have taken Los Angeles family practice physician Levon Tebelekian, 72, into custody after an investigation revealed that he was allegedly charging immigrants a fee in exchange for disease-free medical reports.

Allegedly, Dr. Tebelekian was charging patients $150 each to fill-out a medical exam form with a favorable result. No examinations or tests were ever actually performed.

ICE claims that on one occasion, Dr. Tebelekian told an undercover agent that he would not "disturb his blood" and that he "did not look like he had AIDS.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Miguel Unzueta told the Associated Press: "Aspiring immigrants are required to undergo a medical exam as part of the application process to ensure they don't have any medical conditions or diseases that might pose a public health threat."

He continued: "By allegedly giving some of his patients a clean bill of health without even examining them, this physician potentially put our communities at risk.”

Dr. Tebelekian was charged with fraud and making false statements. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 80 years in prison.

It is unclear as to whether or not Dr. Tebelekian even has a current medical license, as his profile on Healthgrades website states that his license expired on September 30, 2009.

In addition to ICE, the California Medical Board is also investigating the doctor.

Once considered to be eradicated in this country, Tuberculosis has been making a comeback largely due to illegal immigration.

In March of 2002, The Washington Post reported that Virginia's Prince William County experienced a 188 percent increase of TB infections over the previous year. Of course, the streets of Prince William County have been over-run with illegal aliens seeking day-laborer jobs.

In April 2009, another outbreak of TB was feared in Chicago as an infected doctor possibly spread the virus throughout area hospitals. The unidentified physician worked at Evanston Hospital, Childrenīs Memorial and Northwestern Memorialīs Prentice Womenīs Hospital. Chicago has a "sanctuary" policy for illegal aliens, and consequently has a very large illegal population.

It costs between $250K to $1million to treat a patient with TB.
http://www.examiner.com/x-5919-Norfo...n-health-exams
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