ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- An Albany, N.Y., plastic surgery group pleaded guilty in federal court to using knock-off Botox on its patients.
The Food and Drug Administration said five doctors, a nurse and an administrator entered the plea to the misdemeanor charge of misbranding drugs Tuesday.
The defendants from The Plastic Surgery Group LLP were charged with using a botulinum toxin manufactured in Arizona that was not FDA approved and was mislabeled as being Botox, the FDA said in a written statement.
About 150 patients received the injections of the cheap product in 2004. Although no adverse health effects were reported, the patients were charged the same price as for the genuine article.
The defendants will be sentenced Dec. 14 and will likely be fined and ordered to pay restitution to the patients they duped.
