LA Doctor Allegedly Faked Exams For Immigrants
Levon Tebelekian is accused of falsifying the results of medical exams and lab tests.
By OLSEN EBRIGHT
Updated 11:45 AM PST, Wed, Nov 4, 2009
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A Los Angeles doctor has allegedly found a creative way to speed up his workflow.
Levon Tebelekian, 72, is accused of giving medical clearance to immigrants applying for U.S. visas by allegedly falsifying the results of medical exams and lab tests, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In one case, he allegedly told an undercover ICE agent that he was not going to "disturb his blood" and that he "did not look like he had AIDS," according to an affidavit.
Authorities are unsure how many other patients were victims of the alleged scam and may have received one of these apparent visual AIDS tests.
"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," Miguel Unzueta, of ICE in Los Angeles, told the Associated Press.
"By allegedly giving some of his patients a clean bill of health without even examining them, this physician potentially put our communities at risk," Unzueta said.
If convicted, Tebelekian could face up to 80 years in prison, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
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I'll bet the taxpayers are paying for these exams to.
