Doctor Accused of Misdiagnosing Kids

DEARBORN, Mich. - He worked at Oakwood Hospital as the director of pediatric neurology for much of the last decade. However, now he is accused of misdiagnosing hundreds, even thousands of children in his care.

"He's a monster to me. I don't know how he could sleep at night," said Shana Reese.

The 18-year-old is still trying to get her life back on track. At the age of 14, suffering from migraine headaches, she was referred to the director of pediatric neurology at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn. Dr. Yasser Awaad ordered an EEG and promptly diagnosed her with epilepsy.

"I was on about five different medications. Every time he'd switch me, up me, change it to something else, and every single one, I'd be laying in bed for days crying. It didn't take any of the pain away from my headaches at all," Shana Reese said.

Dr. Awaad told Shana she could never have children or they would be mentally challenged. She had to quit cheerleading, and she could not drive. The medication made her so tired this honor roll student could not go to school and nearly flunked out. Now, they know it was all a lie. Shana never had epilepsy.

"I just really thought something was wrong with me... when all along I was fine, and he was just messing me up more," said Shana Reese.

"It's a heartache seeing my child go through something that she didn't have to," said Constance Reese.

This is not the only case. Attorney Brian Benner represents more than 200 families, all of whom have children misdiagnosed with epilepsy by Dr. Awaad. Benner says he did it for the money. His salary was tied to billings. The more EEGs he ordered, the more kids he diagnosed with epilepsy, the more money he made.

"They completely neglected their responsibility under the law and common law to provide safety for their patients. All the time, both of them are collecting a lot of money," said Benner.

Benner is suing Awaad and Oakwood Hospital. The state attorney general has already accused Awaad of over billing and collected more than $300,000 from Oakwood.

Oakwood Hospital released a statement saying, "We have no reason to believe Dr. Awaad's care and treatment resulted in any harm or injury during his tenure with Oakwood." They plan to vigorously defend any cases.

"This is beyond a lawsuit. This is criminal. This is immoral conduct by Dr. Awaad and the people at Oakwood," Benner said.

Benner says Dr. Awaad is now in Riyad, Saudi Arabia at a teaching hospital, but many people believe where he should be is jail.

"I just despise him for taking my kid's life away from her, and I wish he would just rot in jail," Constance Reese.

The Reese family can not stress enough the importance of getting a second opinion, and Shana has this message for anybody who was ever treated by Dr. Awaad.

"I just want anyone who did go to that doctor to get help from somebody else," she said.

FULL STATEMENT FROM OAKWOOD HOSPITAL

Oakwood's first interest in this matter remains the care and well being of our patients and their families.

We have no reason to believe Dr. Awaad’s care and treatment resulted in any harm or injury during his tenure with Oakwood. The diagnosis and treatment of seizure disorders for each patient is based on an individualized evaluation and plan of care specific to each patient. We will continue to answer the concerns brought in each case on an individual basis and we intend to vigorously defend any cases that may result from these claims. We are committed to providing the best care to our patients.