Feds say doc with ties to Grand Strand clinic pushed unapproved COVID-19 treatment
A doctor with ties to a Grand Strand Clinic pushed a vitamin treatment for COVID-19 without evidence backing his claims, federal officials said.
Prosecutors in Michigan charged Charles Mok last week with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Mok operates Allure Medical Spa, which has 26 offices in six states. One of the offices is at 4545 US-17 in Murrells Inlet. Allure Medical offers varicose vein treatments, dermatology services and stem cell therapy, according to its website.
According to court paperwork, an employee of one of the Michigan facilities helped investigators in the case. The employee detailed Medicare fraud by the clinic.
The employee also told how Mok pushed a Vitamin C treatment for COVID-19.
On April 12, Allure started to offer high-dose, vitamin C treatments for patients at risk of contracting coronavirus or who already tested positive, according to court paperwork. At-risk was described as front-line workers, such as nurses, or those with immunodeficiency.
It’s unclear if the treatment was offered or preformed at the Murrells Inlet clinic. A woman who answered the phone at the clinic on Friday said she could not comment.
In a video, Mok admitted the treatment was not FDA approved. But, he later posted a video on YouTube that stated the vitamin C treatment was being used to reduce the duration and severity of more moderate forms of COVID-19, federal prosecutors said.
He also said the goal of the treatment was to keep people from needing to go to the hospital, according to court paperwork.
Mok also claimed by reducing the severity of symptoms and duration of the illness it also reduced the contagiousness, prosecutors said. Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs or therapies that treat, cure or prevent coronavirus.
The employee also told prosecutors that at least five Allure workers tested positive for coronavirus who continued to work and treat patients.
