RICHMOND, VA — A Virginia physician has been indicted on 26 federal charges after allegedly using unapproved ozone gas treatments on patients and fraudulently billing government healthcare programs for $5.2 million.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Dr. Jawad Bhatti, owner of Healing Hands of Virginia, imported medical ozone gas from Hong Kong and Germany and used it in his Richmond clinic without FDA approval. Despite the lack of legal authorization, Bhatti promoted ozone therapy on his clinic’s website, falsely claiming it could treat pain, cancer, AIDS, arthritis, and even aid in weight loss.
Prosecutors say Bhatti misrepresented the experimental procedures—which involved injecting ozone gas during blood transfusions and placing patients in hyperbaric chambers—as legitimate nerve block treatments. He also billed insurance for ultrasound-guided procedures that were not actually performed as claimed, instead using ultrasound only for post-treatment checks.
The FDA classifies ozone as a toxic gas, with no known medical use in treating or preventing disease. Use of ozone in humans can result in severe respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological side effects, according to agency warnings.
Despite clear warnings from the device manufacturers against medical use, Bhatti allegedly continued to administer the gas, disregarding disclaimers stating that the device was not approved for any therapeutic use.
Bhatti now faces multiple charges, including:
Healthcare fraud
False statements related to healthcare
Distribution of adulterated and misbranded devices
Administration of a misbranded drug
The indictment is part of a broader $14.6 billion federal healthcare fraud crackdown, which has led to 324 arrests, including 96 medical professionals.
Dr. Bhatti has not yet entered a plea and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
