RI Doctor Accused Of Using Expired Meds Ordered To Surrender License

EAST GREENWICH, RI — A Rhode Island doctor with practices in East Greenwich and Lincoln has been forced by the Rhode Island Department of Health to surrender his license after facing numerous complaints from patients, records show.

Boris Bergus initially had his license suspected in December 2021 after the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline received an anonymous complaint from a patient at his business, America’s Vein Centers. Inspectors arrived unannounced and discovered dozens of expired and mislabeled medications and supplies such as hypodermic needles and syringes at both locations, with the oldest dating back to 2009, the department's records show.

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"PLEASE DO NOT TELL HIM YOU ARE VISITING. HE WILL HIDE EVERYTHING IN HIS OFFICE!!!!" read an anonymous accusation submitted to the Board in November 2021. "His fillers are purchased through Alibaba which are $20 per unit when regular fillers (like Restalyne) are $400. HE WILL CHARGE [PATIENTS] $650 for $20 filler he bought from Alibaba!"

In its report, the department noted that using expired and mislabeled supplies and medications "…may cause serious and life-threatening infections" in patients, adding that Bergus is "an immediate danger to the public."

According to a consent order signed last month and released last week, Bergus has been ordered to not seek reinstatement of his license to practice medicine and must pay nearly $15,000 in fees and fines.

Other complaints against Bergus that were listed in the order included that he prescribed a controlled substance to an immediate family member, the order said, and he engaged in a personal relationship with a patient, according to the order.

According to the health department, Bergus graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1988 and had his Rhode Island physician license issued in July 1990.

In 2013, Bergus agreed to pay $10,000 and to have his practice restricted after the state discovered Bergus had falsified his resume, citing more medical training than he actually had.

In particular, the consent order singled out a variety of claims made by Bergus with regard to specialty training. Bergus said on his curriculum vitae that he participated in a program at Boston Children’s Hospital from July 1991 to June 1993. He was only there for one year. In addition, his CV said he did a general surgery residency at Brown University from 1989 to 1992, but according to officials at Brown, Bergus never completed that residency, leaving after the second year in 1991.

On an application to Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island in 2011, Bergus said he was a board certified phlebologist in 1997. It turned out the ABP did not board certify phlebologists until 2007.

On another CV, Bergus stated he served a fellowship in pediatric cardiovascular surgery at Boston Children’s, which he did not.