Police: Bypass surgery placed on pal's tab

CHICAGO, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A heart bypass surgery a man underwent at a Chicago hospital last year was charged to his friend after the patient stole his identity, police alleged.

Joliet, Ill., Deputy Police Chief Patrick Kerr said authorities were shocked by allegations that 57-year-old John Parsons pretended to be a mentally disabled friend in order to undergo the major operation without paying for it, the Chicago Tribune said Friday.

The situation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 2007 left authorities will little recourse regarding obtaining the stolen goods, Kerr added.

"Unlike credit card fraud where you can go back and seize that toaster or LCD television they bought, how do you go back in there and get somebody's heart?" Kerr told the Tribune. "This is the first time in my 12 years I've seen anything like this."

Yet Parsons, whose medical expenses totaled nearly $350,000, may ultimately pay for his alleged crimes as he is facing two counts of aggravated financial identity theft.

Parsons' brother, James, told the Tribune his brother, who is due in court Sept. 15, allegedly agreed to steal his friend's identity in order to save his life since he couldn't afford the medical procedure.