More than 600 women have filed a lawsuit against Chesapeake Regional Medical Center (CRMC), alleging that the hospital allowed Dr. Javaid Perwaiz to perform unnecessary surgeries, resulting in permanent harm to patients. This latest group of over 90 women joins 510 others who claim that the hospital administration facilitated a pattern of malpractice that spanned decades.
The allegations date back to 2013 when Kimberly Riddick, then 35, was informed by Dr. Perwaiz that a cyst was hindering her ability to conceive. Riddick underwent multiple surgeries over three years based on his advice, only to discover through a second opinion that the procedures were unnecessary. The aftermath of these surgeries led to excessive bleeding during childbirth and serious complications, limiting her chances of having more children. “We put our trust in him and he betrayed our trust,” Riddick stated, reflecting the sentiments of many affected women.
The lawsuit claims that CRMC executives were aware of Dr. Perwaiz’s questionable practices since the 1980s but continued to permit him to operate. Attorney Anthony DiPietro, who represents the plaintiffs, emphasized the hospital’s role in the alleged abuse. “It takes an entire institution to cover up abuse,” he noted, asserting that the administration was not merely complicit but actively participated in the alleged crimes by failing to take action against Perwaiz.
Dr. Perwaiz is currently serving a 53-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 for defrauding health insurance programs of over $20.3 million. His operations included performing irreversible hysterectomies and other unnecessary procedures on female patients. The lawsuit describes a disturbing pattern where Dr. Perwaiz frequently induced labor or performed cesarean sections to align with his schedule, leading to numerous premature births. This practice was so prevalent at CRMC that it earned the nickname the “Perwaiz special” within the hospital’s neonatology unit.
According to the lawsuit, many patients were unaware of the nature of their surgeries. Reports surfaced that Dr. Perwaiz allegedly altered consent forms while patients were under anesthesia and misled women into believing they had cancer to justify invasive procedures. The hospital reportedly profited significantly from these surgeries through insurance reimbursements.
Despite numerous warnings about Dr. Perwaiz’s conduct from both physicians and hospital staff, CRMC executives either defended his actions or failed to respond adequately. The lawsuit details that Perwaiz was granted surgical privileges at CRMC in 1984, after previously being barred from practicing at Maryview Hospital due to similar concerns. CRMC executives reviewed and renewed his privileges every two years until his arrest in 2019.
The women involved in the lawsuit are seeking $10 million in damages each. Co-counsel Victoria Wickman stated, “What happened at Chesapeake was not medicine. It was a chop shop.”
In early January 2025, CRMC was federally indicted on multiple charges of health care fraud and conspiracy for its role in granting Dr. Perwaiz surgical privileges over the years. The indictment claims that the hospital allowed Perwaiz to misclassify inpatient surgeries as outpatient procedures, thereby evading the stringent scrutiny and documentation required by health care programs.
The governing body of the hospital, Chesapeake Hospital Authority, has filed two motions to dismiss the indictment, arguing that it should be thrown out based on sovereign immunity and the fact that the authority itself is not named in the indictment. This decision has been appealed to the Fourth U.S. Circuit Appeals Court.
As the legal battle unfolds, the impact of this case continues to resonate deeply among the affected women and their families, raising significant questions about patient safety and institutional accountability in healthcare settings.
