Chicago-based OB-GYN Dr. Mona Ghosh has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a massive healthcare fraud scheme that endangered women’s health, cost insurers millions, and left many patients traumatized, infertile, and forever betrayed.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Indian-American physician Dr. Mona Ghosh, a 52-year-old OB-GYN from Chicago, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being found guilty of orchestrating a multi-million dollar healthcare fraud scheme. The case, which has shocked the medical community and devastated dozens of former patients, highlights the grave risks of medical fraud and the abuse of patient trust.
The Fraudulent Scheme: False Claims and Unnecessary Procedures
Between 2018 and 2022, Dr. Ghosh owned and operated Progressive Women’s Healthcare in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. During this period, she submitted fraudulent claims to federal programs such as Medicaid and Tricare, as well as to private insurers including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
The claims covered a wide range of services—endometrial ablations, biopsies, ultrasounds, vaccinations, lab tests, and STD screenings—many of which were either not provided, not medically necessary, or performed without patient consent.
Prosecutors revealed that Dr. Ghosh not only exaggerated the seriousness of routine visits by using incorrect billing codes but also fabricated patient records to justify higher reimbursements. She instructed her staff to participate in the fraud, and in some cases, performed invasive procedures on sedated patients who believed they were undergoing routine exams.
Impact on Patients: Endangered Health and Lost Fertility
The consequences of Dr. Ghosh’s actions were severe. Many women testified during her sentencing hearing that they were subjected to unnecessary, sometimes aggressive, medical procedures. Some were told they needed treatments for cancer they did not have, while others lost their ability to have children due to unwarranted operations. Victims described feelings of betrayal, trauma, and the irreversible impact on their lives and families.
Attorney Adam Snyder, representing nearly 100 former patients, emphasized the broader harm: “She took the fertility of women, for them to trust health care. The ability of women to develop families of their own, she took that,” he said.
Legal Consequences: Prison, Restitution, and License Surrender
Dr. Ghosh pleaded guilty to two counts of healthcare fraud in 2024. On June 9, 2025, US District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama sentenced her to 10 years in prison and ordered her to pay approximately $1.5 million in restitution to insurers and victims. She has also been required to surrender her medical license and will not be eligible for supervised release until serving at least two years of her sentence.
During sentencing, Judge Valderrama condemned Ghosh’s actions, stating, “You irrevocably harmed women who put their trust in you. You used your patients to bankroll your luxurious lifestyle”.
Prosecutors and Victims Speak Out
US Attorney Boutros called the fraud “particularly egregious,” noting that Ghosh endangered her patients’ health and fertility for personal gain. FBI Special Agent DePodesta added, “Dr. Ghosh spent years traumatizing patients, lying to insurers, and stealing taxpayer money to feed her greed”.
Seventeen former patients spoke at the sentencing, sharing stories of unnecessary treatments and lifelong consequences. Many expressed relief that Ghosh can no longer harm others, but also frustration that justice cannot undo the damage done.
Broader Context: Ongoing Healthcare Fraud Crackdown
Dr. Ghosh’s conviction comes amid heightened scrutiny of healthcare fraud in the US. Earlier this month, another Indian-origin healthcare executive, Tonmoy Sharma, was arrested in Los Angeles for alleged involvement in a $149-million fraud case, underscoring the continued efforts by authorities to protect patients and public funds from abuse
