Las Vegas urologist found guilty in reuse of needle guides

By Pashtana Usufzy

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014 | 10 p.m.

A federal jury convicted a Las Vegas urologist Thursday after evidence indicated he reused single-use needle guides for prostate procedures.

Michael Stanley Kaplan, 59, faces up to five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine for reusing the plastic needle guides and instructing his staff at Green Valley Urology to do the same, said Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada.

Kaplan, the operator of Green Valley Urology, used fewer than 10 needle guides from Dec. 15, 2010, to March 11, 2011, despite having performed about 120 prostate procedures.

“Dr. Kaplan made a decision to reuse needle guides in a manner that caused them to be adulterated for the purpose of enriching himself,” Bogden said in a statement. “He also concealed from his patients that they were undergoing procedures with reused needle guides. Such conduct is a felony when performed with the intent to defraud or mislead."

Kaplan, convicted of conspiracy to commit adulteration, reportedly told staffers to reuse each guide three to five times despite the potential health risks to patients.

He was acquitted of misrepresenting to Food and Drug Administration officials how long he practiced reusing needle guides, Bogden said.

Kaplan has been released on his own recognizance. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 30.