Former sinus surgeon Mark Weinberger, infamously known as the “Nose Doctor,” has emerged in West Palm Beach, Florida, years after his conviction for healthcare fraud and a brief stint in prison. His reappearance has reignited anger and pain among former patients who suffered under his care.
“He thinks that he’s above the law,” stated Kayla Thomas, a patient who underwent unnecessary sinus surgery by Weinberger. Her sentiments echo the enduring resentment felt by many who were victims of his fraudulent practices.
Kayla Thomas, a former patient of Mark Weinberger, expresses her anger and frustration.
Valerie Thomas, Kayla’s mother, further emphasized the emotional toll, “I was angry, I’m still angry. This man is a monster.” For them and many others, the scars left by Mark Weinberger Doctor extend far beyond physical wounds.
Mark Weinberger’s name became synonymous with medical malpractice and deceit after he fled the United States in 2004 amidst mounting patient complaints. His escape, disguised as a birthday trip with his wife to the Greek Islands, turned into an international manhunt. While his wife reported him missing from their rented powerboat in Mykonos, Weinberger was actually evading justice for the harm he inflicted on his patients.
In 2006, a federal grand jury in Indiana indicted Mark Weinberger doctor on 22 counts of health care fraud. The charges stemmed from his systematic overbilling of insurance companies for procedures that were either medically unnecessary or never performed at all. This indictment put a legal framework around the suffering of hundreds of patients, but Weinberger remained at large.
Valerie Thomas vividly recalls the lingering trauma: “I imagine that he had long hair and I would grab him by the hair and punch him.” Her visceral reaction speaks volumes about the deep sense of betrayal and violation experienced by Weinberger’s patients. The Thomas family’s ordeal began when they sued Mark Weinberger doctor for performing unwarranted sinus surgery on their then 8-year-old daughter, Kayla. Tragically, during this period, Weinberger also failed to diagnose a tumor growing in Kayla’s pituitary gland.
Kayla described the agonizing symptoms she endured: “I was dizzy. I was nauseous. I was throwing up all the time.” Her condition worsened significantly as the tumor grew. “Her head was three times the size. They said she was starting to go blind,” her mother recounted, highlighting the life-threatening pressure on Kayla’s optic nerve.
Valerie Thomas, mother of Kayla, recounts the severe health issues her daughter faced due to Mark Weinberger's negligence.
Fortunately, doctors in Chicago diagnosed Kayla’s tumor as non-cancerous. However, the damage from Mark Weinberger doctor’s unnecessary sinus surgery at his Weinberger Sinus Clinic in Merrillville, Indiana, had created scar tissue that complicated further treatment. “They only got 10 percent,” Valerie Thomas explained, revealing that the majority of the tumor remains in Kayla’s body to this day.
While Kayla and her family grappled with the consequences of his actions, Mark Weinberger doctor amassed millions, indulging in a lavish lifestyle. “To me it was all about greed. He wanted as much money as he can get,” Valerie Thomas asserted, underscoring the perception of Weinberger’s motivations as purely avaricious.
Escape to the Italian Alps
Mark Weinberger’s evasion of law enforcement lasted three years. In December 2009, Italian authorities located him high in the snowy Italian Alps. Reports indicated he was living in a tent at an altitude of 6,000 feet. His capture led to his extradition back to Indiana, where he eventually pleaded guilty to health care fraud in 2012. The court sentenced Mark Weinberger doctor to seven years in federal prison.
“I wanted him to pay. I wanted him to serve the consequences for his actions,” Kayla stated, reflecting the desire for accountability. However, the sentence felt inadequate to those he had harmed. “I was nonfunctional that day,” Valerie Thomas added, expressing her disappointment. “I did not think that was enough. At that point Kayla had suffered more than seven years.”
Despite the seven-year sentence, Mark Weinberger doctor served less than five years in prison, including time served before and after his sentencing. This perceived leniency further fueled the sense of injustice among his victims.
A New Chapter in Florida
This spring, news program Dateline uncovered Mark Weinberger doctor’s new life in Florida. He resides in West Palm Beach with a new wife, two young children, and a home, a stark contrast to the ongoing struggles of his former patients.
For Valerie Thomas, this revelation was deeply upsetting. “I’m upset with the thought that he’s still not in jail and that he is in Florida living his best life,” she confessed, highlighting the disparity between Weinberger’s freedom and their enduring pain.
Since his release from prison, Mark Weinberger doctor has seemingly explored new avenues, including cryptocurrency ventures on YouTube, identifying himself as Mark W. Further investigation by NBC News revealed his online presence as a “yoga doc.” In online videos, he promotes yoga classes promising transformations and using provocative language, a far cry from his former professional persona as a sinus surgeon.
“I think it’s awful,” Kayla responded to the news of his online activities. “I think he’s still showing and exhibiting the same level of awfulness that he was earlier, which leads me to believe he hasn’t learned anything.” Her assessment suggests a pattern of behavior that remains unchanged despite his legal repercussions.
Now 25, Kayla has channeled her experiences into a powerful drive. After years of medical treatments stemming from the tumor and the initial misdiagnosis, she pursued medical school. She is now on track to become both an internist and pediatrician. Kayla emphasizes that her career path is not defined by Weinberger’s actions but rather by her resilience and determination to help others. “I didn’t do it to somehow right his wrong,” Kayla explained. “I did it because when he decided to run there were other doctors that were like, hey I’ll take care of you.”
Valerie Thomas expressed immense pride in her daughter’s accomplishments. “I always told her you’re going to go away to college and no matter what, I’m going to make sure it happens.”
Kayla acknowledges the positive influence of the doctors who supported her. “If we don’t have the doctors that are willing to say, ‘I will walk through this with you,’ that’s when we lose our humanity. So [Weinberger] might have lost his, but that doesn’t mean I have to lose mine.”
In 2005, the Indiana Medical Board permanently revoked Mark Weinberger doctor’s medical license, a formal end to his career as a surgeon. In 2013, nearly 300 of his former patients received a share of a $55 million medical malpractice settlement, a form of financial redress, though it cannot fully compensate for the harm they endured. The story of Mark Weinberger doctor serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of medical fraud and the long road to recovery for those affected.
