The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners “Medical Board” has reached a settlement with Dr. Saju Joseph, M.D. Dr. Joseph was originally issued a medical license in the State of Nevada in September 2017.  In December, 2025, the Investigative Committee of the Medical Board filed a formal charge against Dr. Joseph for violating the Nevada Medical Practices Act. The one-count complaint alleging a medical malpractice. Per the act, Dr. Joseph became a subject to discipline by the Medical Board.

The investigation was about a thirty-five years old female patient. In March 2024, a surgeon performed a EGD laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery on a patient. The surgery was performed by another surgeon, with Dr. Joseph as the assistant surgeon. The surgery was completed without any complication and the patient was discharged home on the day after surgery. However, after a couple of days patient was feeling ill and was admitted to the emergency room at Mountain View Hospital. Later, the patient was transferred to the emergency department of Southern Hills Hospital where her surgeon of record for her gastric bypass surgery had privileges. Her lead surgeon of record was out of town, and Dr. Joseph was covering his patients. Dr. Joseph saw the patient on multiple occasions and wrote a physical note that nausea and tachycardia are common after EGD bypass surgery. His final assessment was to start additional medications for the patient.

Six days after the surgery, while in the hospital, patient vomited, aspirated and suffered a cardiac arrest and died. Per the investigative report, there is no indication that Dr. Joseph reviewed the CT scan from the Mountain View Hospital. 

The initial allegations stem from Dr. Joseph’s alleged failure to exercise the reasonable degree of care, skill, and knowledge ordinarily exercised by physicians under similar circumstances while treating the patient. Specifically, it is alleged that Dr. Joseph failed to conduct a careful and thorough review of the available imaging, failed to perform a timely bedside evaluation of the patient, and, rather than proceeding with immediate surgical intervention for the acute small bowel obstruction, ordered additional medications for the patient.

The settlement agreement shows Dr. Joseph admits to the allegation of violation of medical malpractice. Further, Dr. Joseph agrees to pay the cost and expenses incurred in the investigation and prosecution within 60 days of the acceptance of the said agreement, in the amount of $3,812 and a fine totaling $5,000. Additionally, Dr. Joseph has agreed to perform 10 hours of continuing medical education related to the subject of proper and accurate image reading within 6 months. The final agreement shall be reported to the appropriate entities and parties, but not limited to, the National Practitioner Data Bank and shall receive a public letter of reprimand by the Medical Board.

Dr. Saju Joseph is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at Harvard. According to information previously reported by an insurance company, Dr. Joseph was named in a medical malpractice lawsuit that was subsequently resolved through a settlement in the amount of $975,000.