Carbondale doc pleads guilty to misdemeanors
Published: June 30, 2009
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Federal prosecutors offered little explanation Tuesday about a plea agreement that allows a Carbondale doctor to avoid more than a dozen federal charges and the possibility of significant prison time.
Gregory Salko, 63, went before U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts, each of which carry up to a year in prison and $100,000 fine.
Two years ago, Dr. Salko was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to his failure to diagnose breast cancer in two elderly patients. One of the patients, 69-year-old Peggy Rogers, died in 2006 after the cancer spread to her lungs, liver and bones. The second patient survived the cancer, which was diagnosed after she switched doctors in 2005.
Originally, prosecutors said the doctor billed Medicare and health insurance company Highmark for examinations of both women that he never performed.
Dr. Salko admitted Tuesday he filed false information on a medical examination report called a "progress note" on one of the two patients after she switched to another doctor. He also admitted he illegally obtained Ms. Rogers' medical records from Community Medical Center after her death.
After the hearing Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Daniel declined to explain why prosecutors decided to drop the felony charges. Martin Carlson, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, said the plea agreement was reached after meetings with Dr. Salko and his attorneys.
"It is always incumbent on prosecutors to continually reassess all the evidence in a case as it comes to light," Mr. Carlson said. He declined to elaborate.
Dr. Salko's attorney, Sal Cognetti, declined to comment Tuesday.
In April, county prosecutors dropped their charges against Dr. Salko, saying new evidence had come to light that they believed would make it difficult to convict the doctor.
Dr. Salko remains free while awaiting sentencing on the federal charges. He surrendered his medical license in 2007 but said he plans to apply for reinstatement in October, the earliest time possible under an agreement with county prosecutors.
Contact the writer: enissley@timesshamrock.com
4 posted comments
HE WEASELED HIS WAY OUT OF NEARLY ALL CHARGES EXCEPT FOR THE LESSER!! AFFLUENCE & INFLUENCE IS THE NAME OF SALKO'S GAME!!
I SAID IT RIGHT FROM JUMPSTREET, THAT SALKO WOULDN'T SEE A DAY IN ANY PRISON, AND THAT HE'D BE BACK AT HIS "PRACTICE" AS SOON AS HE WEASELED HIS WAY OUT OF THE CHARGES. BINGO, I WAS RIGHT!
DON'T ANYONE TELL ME ANY DIFFERENT, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THIS FARCE OF A DOCTOR DID. REGRETFULLY, I WAS ONE OF HIS PATIENTS FOR TOO MANY YEARS. IT STARTED TO GET HAIRY IN THE LATE 80'S ON INTO THE 90'S. THINGS BECAME REALLY BIZARRE APPROX 2000 AND FORWARD, WITH NEW "CUSTOMERS" AND OUT OF STATE TAGS.
I SAW QUITE A FEW EMPLOYEES COME AND GO AT HIS PRACTICE, FROM ASSISTING PHYSICIANS, NURSES, TECHNICIANS AND OFFICE WORKERS. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE QUITE A FEW PATIENTS, MYSELF INCLUDED, FELT UNEASY AND FOUND NEW PHYSICIANS. I WAS MISDIAGNOSED (SERIOUS AILMENT), MISTREATED, AND COULDN'T DO A DARN THING ABOUT IT.
SEEMS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HIS KIND HAVE BOTH AFFLUENCE AND INFLUENCE.
WHEN SALKO'S TROUBLES BEGAN (FEDS MOVED IN), HE BECAME RUDE AND HOSTILE. SALKO HAD EVERYTHING (RECORDS INCLUDED) ALL NEATLY TIED UP THAT MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO AFTER HIS SORRY BACKSIDE. IT GIVES A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO HAVING A "MOUTHPIECE".
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'M NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY SLEEP OVER IT, BUT I HOPE SALKO DOES BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY HE'S GOT TO EVENTUALLY ANSWER FOR WHAT HE'S DONE. NO LAWYER OR PORTFOLIO WILL GET HIM OFF WHEN THAT TIME COMES. IN A WAY, I FEEL BADLY FOR HIM.
REST IN PEACE PEG ROGERS.