Podiatrist License Suspended and Jailed (GA)
The hospital privileges of a Macon podiatrist werer suspended after he was jailed, accused of crippling patients and refusing to pay a $3.9 million civil judgment. Dr. George Vito turned himself in to U.S. Marshals on Aug. 8 after being held in civil contempt. Vito has refused to pay $3.9 million in damages for prior malpractice judgments. Monroe County Hospital suspended Vito's privileges, but hospital CEO O.J. Booker said none of the operations cited in the lawsuit occurred at Monroe County Hospital.
U.S. District Court Judge Ashley Royal ordered Vito and Foot & Leg Centers of Georgia to pay those damages in May 2007. In his decision, Royal said Vito was involved in evidence tampering, perjury, witness intimidation and wire fraud in a pattern of racketeering that dated back to 1999 and “continues to the present.” According to court documents, Vito has not paid any of the damages and remains in jail and was expected to stay there until he complies with the order, said federal court officials.
While his office is in Macon, Vito saw patients regularly in Forsyth and sometimes performed surgery at Monroe County Hospital. Hospital chief of staff, Dr. Patton Smith, said the medical staff has suspended Vito’s privileges and may do so permanently if the charges are confirmed. He said no medical board or agency has notified the hospital so they hope to get more concrete facts before taking final action.
Source: Monroe County Reporter (8/28/08)
