American Greed Season 3 Episode 21 Skin Doctor Takes His Cut

In season three, episode 21 of American Greed, viewers are introduced to the story of a man known as the "skin doctor," who takes his cut of a fraudulent scheme that preys on unsuspecting patients seeking medical treatment for their ailments.

The episode begins by detailing the background of Dr. Mark Weinberger, a prominent Indianapolis-based ear, nose, and throat specialist who had built a thriving medical practice over the span of a decade. However, the facade of Weinberger's seemingly successful career is exposed once investigators learn of the horrific treatment that patients received under his care.

Weinberger's scheme involved diagnosing patients with severe medical conditions such as throat cancer, sinusitis, and ear infections. After making the diagnosis, Weinberger would coerce his patients into agreeing to undergo expensive and unnecessary surgical procedures. He would then submit false Medicare and insurance claims for the surgeries, defrauding the government and bilking insurers out of millions of dollars.

Despite Weinberger's fraudulent practices, people continued to trust him with their health. However, as the story progresses, viewers learn that Weinberger was far more sinister than they could have imagined. Prosecutors would later allege that he would deliberately perform botched surgeries, leaving his patients disfigured and in pain, all in the name of greed.

The episode features interviews with patients who had suffered under Weinberger's care, who recount their harrowing experience undergoing surgeries they did not need only to discover the procedures were poorly executed, and their symptoms unimproved. One patient shares his story of losing his sense of smell after Weinberger operated on his nose, while another reveals how the surgeries left her with a gaping hole and a permanent scar on her throat.

As investigators try to piece together the puzzle of Weinberger's fraudulent activity, they discover that he had fled the country with the intent of evading authorities. Law enforcement agencies launched a massive manhunt spanning multiple continents, ultimately locating Weinberger in Italy where he had been living under an assumed name.

The episode culminates with Weinberger's trial and subsequent conviction for healthcare fraud, where he faced a sentence of up to 300 years in prison. Viewers are left with the sobering afterthought that their health is often precarious in the hands of people who can take advantage of it. As one commentator reminds viewers, "You can't trust that a doctor will always do what's right. Sometimes greed gets in the way, and patients pay the price."

In conclusion, American Greed season three, episode 21, offers a sobering look at the lengths to which some medical professionals will go for financial gain. Through interviews with patients and investigators, the episode exposes a web of deceit and greed that leaves viewers questioning the integrity of the healthcare system. Despite Weinberger's eventual capture, viewers are left with a haunting reminder that not all medical professionals are motivated solely by the desire to heal.