Richmond Doctor Pleads Guilty to Injecting Patients with Unapproved Ozone Gas

Bhatti admitted to administering the unauthorized and dangerous treatment, often without patients' knowledge or consent.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:15pm

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A Richmond doctor named Jawad Bhatti has pleaded guilty to injecting patients with ozone gas, a toxic substance that is not approved by the FDA for medical use. Bhatti operated a pain management clinic called Healing Hands of Virginia and falsely claimed the ozone injections could treat a variety of conditions. He often administered the injections without patients' informed consent, leading to immediate and lasting physical side effects.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of unscrupulous medical practitioners who exploit vulnerable patients by administering unapproved and potentially harmful treatments. It raises concerns about oversight of pain management clinics and the need for stronger regulations to protect patient safety, especially when it comes to experimental or alternative therapies.

The details

Between July 2019 and October 2020, Bhatti manufactured and injected patients with a drug containing ozone gas, which he falsely claimed could treat conditions like pain, arthritis, cancer, and AIDS. He used large syringes to directly inject the ozone into patients' bodies, often without their knowledge or consent. The injections caused immediate and lasting physical side effects in patients. Bhatti knew the ozone injections were not approved by the FDA, but he took steps to hide his conduct, including not documenting the treatments in medical records and using false billing codes.

  • On February 3, 2026, Bhatti pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of using a misbranded drug.
  • The alleged incidents occurred between July 2019 and October 2020.

The players

Dr. Jawad Bhatti

The owner and operator of the Richmond pain management clinic Healing Hands of Virginia, who pleaded guilty to injecting patients with unapproved and dangerous ozone gas treatments.

Healing Hands of Virginia

The Richmond pain management clinic owned and operated by Dr. Jawad Bhatti, where the unauthorized ozone gas injections took place.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency that has determined ozone gas has no known useful medical application and does not approve its use.

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What’s next

Bhatti's exact sentence will be determined at his sentencing hearing at a later date. While the plea agreement states he must permanently surrender his DEA controlled substance registration and never apply for one again, there is no mention of revoking his medical license.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger oversight and regulation of alternative and experimental medical treatments, especially in pain management clinics, to protect vulnerable patients from unscrupulous practitioners who may exploit them with unapproved and potentially dangerous therapies.