Cancer doctor to plead not guilty to fraud

SUMMIT — A Mississippi cancer doctor is expected to plead not guilty today to charges of diluting chemotherapy drugs and using old needles on patients.

Dr. Meera Sachdeva is the 50-year-old founder of Rose Cancer Clinic in Summit. She’s scheduled for arraignment today in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

Sachdeva’s attorney, Robert McDuff, says she would plead not guilty.

Prosecutors say Sachdeva gave patients less chemotherapy or cheaper drugs than they were told, while billing Medicaid and Medicare for more. Prosecutors say the clinic also billed for new syringes for each patient even though it reused some on multiple people.

The Mississippi Health Department closed the clinic in July. Patients are being tested for HIV and other diseases because of concerns of contamination from dirty needles.

Authorities say the clinic made millions.