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Apr. 19, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Ex-Desai colleagues open new offices

Several doctors ready to provide medical care

By PAUL HARASIM
REVIEW-JOURNAL
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The South Hills Gastroenterology Clinic in Henderson has been opened by Drs. Carmelo Herrero and Albert Mason. The doctors are former associates of Dr. Dipak Desai.
Photo by Martin S. Fuentes/Review-Journal

A physician who was part of Dr. Dipak Desai's gastroenterology practice, which is at the center of a massive hepatitis alert, said Friday that he has opened offices in Henderson because patients deserve the best in quality medical care.

Dr. Carmelo Herrero said he and another former associate of Desai, Dr. Albert Mason, will evaluate patients at South Hills Gastroenterology, 2625 Wigwam Parkway, but will not do procedures there.

"We want to get back to the community and give good quality medical care. Our patients deserve the best," said Herrero, who added that he and Mason have not determined whether they will perform endoscopic procedures at hospitals or area ambulatory surgical centers. "I want to assure my former patients that I am here for them."

Other former associates of Desai also are opening offices in the Las Vegas Valley.


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    • According to documents on file with the Nevada secretary of state, Drs. Dipesh Banker, Snehal Desai, Ranadev Mukherjee and Shahid Wahid, all physicians who helped Desai create a multimillion-dollar gastroenterology empire in Las Vegas, have formed a medical company known as Digestive Associates LLP in North Las Vegas.

    Yet to open, it will be at 2031 McDaniel Street, near North Vista Hospital.

    Those doctors were unavailable for comment Friday.

    Another former Desai physician might be preparing to open an office. A business license for Great West Medical Associates, at 5915 S. Rainbow Blvd., is pending. That medical business would be in the suite of one of the gastroenterology offices associated with Desai.

    The owner of Great West was not named in state records, but the corporation's name is "Great West Medical Associates (Faris) LLP."

    Dr. Frank Faris worked for Desai. He was unavailable for comment Friday.

    The fact that former Desai physicians are publicly resuming work in the Las Vegas Valley was troubling to some former patients.

    "All those doctors should lose their licenses. They all knew what was going on," said Becky Blessing, who received one of the Southern Nevada Health District's 40,000 letters that were sent to former patients of Desai's Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada on Shadow Lane. The notices urged the patients to be tested for blood-borne diseases, including hepatitis C, an incurable and potentially fatal disease that attacks the liver.

    Six cases of acute hepatitis C have been traced to the Shadow Lane clinic, and a seventh is linked to the Desert Shadow sister clinic on Burnham Avenue. Officials have said the cases are linked to risky injection practices at the clinics.

    "What do they think we are, idiots?" Blessing asked.

    Blessing had a colonoscopy at the Shadow Lane clinic in August. She has tested negative for blood-borne diseases, but her doctor says she must be tested again in six months.

    Desai's entire practice and its 14 physicians remain under investigation. Investigators are uncertain which practitioners worked at which clinics for Desai, who voluntarily agreed not to practice until the investigation is completed.

    Las Vegas physician Dr. Julian Lopez said Friday that physicians who worked for Desai should not practice locally again.

    "They violated the public trust," he said. "We need to get that built back up."

    Herrero won't talk about his past affiliation with Desai.

    "My lawyers don't want me to talk about the past," he said. "But in the future I will."

    Review-Journal writer Brian Haynes contributed to this report. Contact reporter Paul Harasim at pharasim@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2908.



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    John wrote on May 15, 2008 06:21 PM: None of the Doctors should be allowed to practice. They were all partners, it is not a big Organization that a lot of employees are unaware of what is going on.

    These were about 10 doctors n partnership and everyone was aware how the clinic was run. They were all full of greed and now their licences should be taken away


    Michael wrote on May 03, 2008 06:59 PM: To the doctors affiliated with Desai, get over it. You are finished. Your falsely built reputations are never going to recover from this and you are reaping your rewards for your arrogance and greed. Besides Desai, Herrero and Mason were among the top bastards. I hope you all rot in hell after you lose everything else you have.


    larry johnson wrote on April 26, 2008 08:19 PM: The so called DR.s associated with Dr, Greed should never be allowed to practice again. For them to say they didn't know what was going on sounds like those made in Germany after WW11.
    When then violated the oath they took, The one that says they will take care of some of the people some of the time they committed themselves to practicing the phrase Would you like that supersized. To allow them to practice medicine is a shame to every honest and committed Dr. And a disgrace to those that allow it. I don't understand why more Dr.s are standing up for their profession.


    Spike wrote on April 22, 2008 08:28 PM: Are 40,000 people going to allow this ? Let us get our voices heard!


    Scorpiogal wrote on April 19, 2008 09:38 PM: postitute-a sales person from 3M corp that sells those little yellow sticky notes called Post Its.


    Scorpiogal wrote on April 19, 2008 09:37 PM: 'postitute'-I'm guessing a sales person with 3M Corp who sells Post-It notes.


    kk wrote on April 19, 2008 05:45 PM: So should everyone in the White House be condemmed just because George W. Bush is president? They don't know whats going on behind closed doors....
    All you people can think about is revenge and blame. Makes me sick. Should you be condemmed if your momma is a postitute?


    Beezie wrote on April 19, 2008 02:47 PM: To lets think for a minute,

    Why spend money running when the system AND the body politic is designed to protect you? They had a huge market share as evidenced by the crowded waiitng rooms,5 minute endoscopies and multiple valley loactions. Give me a break. The reason people don't want to see the associated docs is not because they are perceived as 'maniacs' but because of their lack of ethics. They chose to turn a blind eye to what was happening and were too greedy or nadless to speak out against this assembly line process. If that's how they roll, how can they possibly be an effective advocate for anyones health? See RJ story re: Former clinic doctor says unnecessary biopsies were done and check out his last comment at the end of the story. This is a perfect example of why the public has their shorts in a wad and some docs and nurses need to grow a spine.
    http://www.lvrj.com/news/16378046.html


    lets think for a minute wrote on April 19, 2008 01:59 PM: I cant understand how so many people think the every dr in the group was some sort of maniac. How many locations did they have???
    I assume every employee working at Enron, or MCI Worldcom knew everything that brought those companies down too. Get real folks. Stop and think about it for about 10 seconds and you might figure it out. If these two doctor's at South Hills Gastro were guilty of something, do you think they would set up shop in this town? Dont think so folks. They clearly arent running and they likely dont have much to hide. Let's use our heads instead of (only)listening to the news.


    AntiDr wrote on April 19, 2008 11:23 AM: OMG! I can't believe they still have their licenses. After what they did to people they would still be able to practice. I am wondering who is this person behind all this...I HATE ALL THESE DOCTORS!!!!


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