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A Grand Rapids physician who specializes in urogynecology is facing a felony charge after practicing with a suspended license, .

Husam Abed, MD, 52, of Sterling Heights, has been charged with one count of unauthorized practice of a health profession, a 4-year felony, Attorney General Dana Nessel said. The charge follows an investigation by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), with authorization from the Board of Medicine, and a resulting administrative complaint filed against Abed on May 17.

The alleges negligence, incompetence, and lack of good moral character, the Attorney General's office noted.

Specifically, Abed is alleged to have used pessary devices, designed to provide support in the area of a prolapse, in patients as young as 13 years old, the complaint said. A review of the physician's patient records revealed that he performed treatments on minors that "fell below the standard of care," and that he performed a surgery that was not indicated.

In the case of a 19-year-old patient, who has not been named to protect confidentiality, Abed is alleged to have begun treating her last year for mixed urinary incontinence and a history of pelvic pain and defecatory dysfunction, according to the complaint. The patient was allegedly advised that her previously diagnosed conditions of interstitial cystitis and endometriosis did not exist, and was fitted with a pessary device.

When the patient refused an upsized pessary device at a follow-up appointment, Abed is alleged to have advised the patient that her only option at that time was surgery, including hysterectomy, sacrocolpopexy, and a midurethral sling, the complaint said. Abed is alleged to have then performed the procedures, despite there being no indication for hysterectomy or sacrocolpopexy, the patient never having children, and without first recommending or referring the patient for more conservative treatment options.

Following the surgery, the patient is alleged to have experienced severe pain, as well as an increase in complications, and required revisional surgery to address her complications, according to the complaint.

"Given the intrusive nature of respondent's practices and the irreparable harm to at least one patient, respondent poses an immediate threat to the public's health, safety, and welfare," LARA wrote in the complaint.

Nessel said that based on the allegations in the administrative complaint, and in consultation with the Board of Medicine, LARA executed a summary suspension of the physician's license to practice medicine on May 23 and it was served the following day.

However, both LARA and Nessel conducted additional investigations into allegations that Abed treated a patient on May 28.

"A physician who knowingly violates the inherent trust patients place in their doctors does irreparable damage," Nessel said in a statement. "I encourage anyone with concerns about the conduct and practices of this physician to report their concerns to my department."

Abed was arraigned on Tuesday and given a $1,000 cash bond, according to the Attorney General's office. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

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