Dr. Stokes: Case Study

Dr. Robert Stokes, a renowned dermatologist, has joined the ranks of many other healthcare professionals. He was implicated in a scheme to defraud the government. Using the Internet and other sources, research the case of Dr. Stokes. After completing your research, please respond to the following questions.

1) Discuss the case against Dr. Stokes.
2) What were the actual charges filed against him?
3) What was the punishment he received, if any? Do you feel the final outcome was justified?
4) Discuss the actions the state government and federal government later took in response to this case.
Dr Stokes motivation for these actions was greed and his although his sentence was successfully appealed it was appropriate. In August 2010 Dr Stokes file an appeal and six months was shortened from his original sentence. An appeals court ruled he should be re-sentenced because the original sentence was wrongly based on his patients being considered "vulnerable victims." The judge did abide by reduced sentencing guidelines of 97-121 months because of the "vulnerable victim" issue, but ruled Stokes should serve near the top of the range of the new sentence.

Since Dr Robert Stokes ' fraud was brought to justice a state law was passed prohibiting doctors from reusing needles and other medical equipment. Under the bill, violators could get up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for reusing specified equipment. Although Michigan worked to ensure something like this never happens again many healthcare officials in the county are at odds with laws that prevent the reuse of some of the items listed as single use stating when properly used, disinfection and sterilization can ensure the safe use of invasive and non-invasive medical devices. However, current disinfection and sterilization guidelines must be strictly