This week on Hashtag History, we will be discussing Mark Weinberger, known as “The Nose Doctor”. To put it bluntly, Weinberger, a doctor who opened up his own practice in Indiana, was performing hundreds of unnecessary - and sometimes, negligent - sinus procedures on patients. In fact, according to a Vanity Fair article, he recommended surgery to 90% of his patients! 90%! That is an overwhelming number! Many of these patients either did not actually need the surgery OR were misdiagnosed with sinus problems when, in fact, they had things like cancer.

As medical malpractice and insurance fraud lawsuits began to stack up, Weinberger decided to hop ship and travel to Greece with his third wife to celebrate her thirtieth birthday. While on this vacation, Weinberger disappeared without telling his wife where he was going. She would soon find out that he had left her with more than $6 million in debt. Weinberger would not be found until five years later in the European Alps when his girlfriend spotted him on an episode of America’s Most Wanted.

Despite pleading guilty to 22 counts of healthcare fraud in 2011, Weinberger is now a free man…and you are not even ready to hear what kind of scammy operation he is running now.

Follow Hashtag History on Instagram @hashtaghistory_podcast for all of the pictures mentioned in this episode.

Citations for all sources can be located on our website at www.HashtagHistory-Pod.com. You can also check out our website for super cute merch!

You can now sponsor a cocktail and get a shout-out on air! Just head to www.buymeacoffee.com/hashtaghistory or head to the Support tab on our website!

You can locate us on www.Patreon.com/hashtaghistory where you can donate $1 a month to our Books and Booze Supply. All of your support goes a long ways and we are endlessly grateful! To show our gratitude, all Patreon Supporters receive an automatic 15% OFF all merchandise in our merchandise store, a shoutout on social media, and stickers!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

- Rachel and Leah

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hashtaghistory/support