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Clinic owner found success

Doctor, native of India built medical empire




Dr. Dipak Desai is an American success story, an immigrant from India who built a small medical empire in the desert of Southern Nevada.

Now an aspect of that success is under scrutiny after health officials have determined that six patients treated at Desai's Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada were infected there with hepatitis C, a potentially lethal blood-borne virus. Investigators believe they became infected when workers used contaminated syringes and vials when injecting patients with medication.


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  • Desai, a doctor in Nevada since 1980, is 65 percent owner of the center, according to Las Vegas city business license records. Three other doctors share ownership, with Dr. Eladio Carrera having the next largest stake with 14 percent, according to the records.

    Desai has not commented publicly.

    Government records show he owns pieces of other medical practices in the valley, including the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, which has multiple locations, and Spanish Hills Surgical Center in southwest Las Vegas.

    According to the Gastroenterology Center's Web site, Desai graduated from medical school at Gujarat University in India and completed his medical residency at Catholic Medical Center in New York. He founded the center in 1980.

    A symbol of his success can be seen in the four-bedroom, 8,724-square-foot house in Red Rock Country Club that he and his wife bought in June 2004 for $3.4 million. The home has a pool, spa and two fireplaces.

    "I wasn't born rich, and sometimes you have to give something back to the society in which you live," Desai said in a 1992 Review-Journal story about local doctors providing free treatment to striking Frontier Hotel workers.

    That success has also allowed Desai to be a generous political campaign donor through the years.

    The registered Republican has given nearly $25,000 to federal candidates and committees going back to 1997. Like many business people, he has given to Democrats and Republicans alike, even opponents in the same race.

    Desai has given to Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Republican Don Chairez, who tried to unseat her; President Bush's campaign and Al Gore's; Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev.

    Contributions from corporations are not allowed at the federal level, but they are at the state level. A practice founded by Desai, the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, has been giving to candidates since 1998, according to information compiled by the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

    In 2004, the center gave $25,000 to the Keep Our Doctors In Nevada tort-reform ballot initiative, a measure aimed at curbing malpractice rates.

    In 2006, the center donated funds to several candidates including Gov. Jim Gibbons and failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibson.

    A political operative who spoke on condition of anonymity said Desai was one of many foreign-born physicians who sought prominence through political giving. Desai had become less active and visible at political events in recent years.

    "Some of these guys become financially successful and attain a certain professional stature, but what's missing is they don't have recognition and respect outside their somewhat closed community," the operative said. "To be able to have (an elected official) shake your hand and call you by name somehow completes things for them."

    The access attained in this way doesn't typically come with political influence, the operative said.

    Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2919. Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0281.

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    the word wrote on April 26, 2009 09:05 AM: All employess of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada should be prosecuted criminally and should never be allowed to practice in the medical field ever again. All the doctors, nurses, clerks, techs, etc. should be banned from practicing. The names of these employees should be made public.


    Micheal Smith wrote on July 28, 2008 03:13 PM: Here is what I've realized: the majority of people that post on this forum are incredibly hypocritical.. they consider themselves "true Americans" yet are so quick to render a verdict and make a judgment without hearing the facts, there hasn't even been a trial yet!

    You "true Americans" who want to vilify the Indian community need to learn that the MAJORITY of Indians in this country immigrated forty years ago, were educated, and have positively contributed to the society. By in large, you rarely will find Indians taking government handouts, in jails, or causing much trouble at all..

    So lay off. I'm sick of the attacks on Dr. Desai - YOU don't know the entire story.. You only know what has been reported.

    The recent piece on Dr. Desai's personal life was despicable - and a complete hit job on the man. The reporter went out to seek the people with the most vile opinion of Dr. Desai (self-serving people) and refused to report on the majority of people that stood up for his character.

    The racist, xenophobic posts in this newspaper confirm that our country has yet to embrace immigrants - the people that make this country what it is.


    HUMAN wrote on July 08, 2008 04:06 AM: Money power,Muscle power or Political power to rule on others


    noreply@noreply.com wrote on May 17, 2008 04:43 AM: Well, whoever they discover had knowledge of the syringe reuse should also have to live with hep C for the rest of their lives.


    mac wrote on May 10, 2008 12:50 AM: We should send Dipak Desai back to India to live with maccacas...


    Dipak Killer wrote on April 16, 2008 01:11 PM: Had I become infected because of this filthy sand n*gga, I'd surely take a gun and blow his head off point blank. He should get the death penalty, old school style. I saw "DEATH TO DIPAK" by firing squad. Time to return this sand from whence he came.


    MONA wrote on March 16, 2008 02:33 PM: DR. DESAI HAS DISGRACED THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE IN NEVADA AND SHOULD BE DEPORTED. UNFORTUNATELY THE FRAUD IS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED AND THERE ARE ALOT OF OTHER CULPRITS INVOLVED IN THE SHENANIGANS.


    Anonymous wrote on March 11, 2008 06:41 AM: Ignorance is a virtue in this land. He is not a muslim and he is not a terrorist to be called an Islamic terrorist.


    Must Kill All Terrorists wrote on March 10, 2008 08:08 PM: Why has no one brought up the fact that infecting some 40,000 people with hepatitis and AIDS is an act of terrorism that dwarfs the 9/11 attacks? I say this obviously Islamic terrorist needs to be put to death just like Timmy and Osama.


    jan wrote on March 10, 2008 09:10 AM: hey bill, first most doctors from india in the u.s. did not come here illegally.they were invited in after passing really difficult exams to fill in the healthcare needs of vastly underserved population groups here which us born doctors rarely chose to practise in. so they are not parasites but saprophytes engaged in a mutually symbiotic relationship which started as a need based relationship on the part of the us government. as for arrogance deception and lack of honour you know people who live in glass houses .... etc. at least you did not mention violence. thanx. having said that i think if the allegations ine the nevada clinic are true all parties involved should be brougt to quick justice


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