PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A former member of the Virginia Board of Medicine was surprised to learn of allegations that a whistleblower was reprimanded by Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, as described in a federal indictment related to convicted OB-GYN Javaid Perwaiz. Chesapeake hospital indicted for healthcare fraud Perwaiz was arrested in 2019 and convicted in 2020 on federal charges of healthcare fraud and making false statements. Dozens of patients were subjected to unnecessary and dangerous procedures at Chesapeake Regional and other locations. The indictment claims that a whistleblower colleague of Perwaiz, identified only as W.R., complained to the Board of Medicine and was reprimanded by CRMC and forced to apologize to its president. Stephen Heretick, a former delegate and former member of the Board of Medicine, was stunned at learning what had happened to W.R. "That surprises me greatly, because the safety of the practice does rely upon individuals such as other practitioners to point out practices such as these," he said in a Friday afternoon interview. "We rely upon whistleblowers." Heretick was also stumped after reviewing Perwaiz's Board of Medicine file. He pointed to a 1984 document that cited Perwaiz for numerous infractions, but the file contains no corresponding punishment. "He was charged with a litany of abusive patient practices, including a series of unjustifiable hysterectomies and sexual contact with patients," Heretick said. "There's nothing in the board record which indicates what happened. Had these allegations come before the board during my tenure, he never would have had his license back." Heretick served on the board from 2003 until 2014. Meanwhile, a Chesapeake Regional staff member who wanted to remain anonymous told WAVY that the indictment wasn't completely surprising because "we've known since 2019" about Perwaiz. As far as morale, there's "no great sense of paranoia" and the staff member believes "CRMC acted in good faith and will be cleared." Heretick is a former federal prosecutor and said he has not seen a previous case similar to this one. "It's very rare that you see an institution being federally charged," he said, and added that the private health plans who covered Perwaiz's bogus procedures — Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Sentara Optima, and Optum — could also have cases against CRMC.