Doctor used veterinary catheters on human patients in Illinois for years, feds say

A physician performing intrauterine inseminations on his human patients in Illinois used catheters designed for animals, officials say.

The Chicago-area doctor has since been charged federally as the Food and Drug Administration had not approved the devices for use on people, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Joel G. Brasch, of Skokie, is accused of using the veterinary catheters on his patients from about 2016 to October 2018 in Orland Park and other locations, court records show.

The defense attorney representing Brasch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“In procedures such as IUI, every step should strictly follow protocols in order to protect the patient’s health and safety and ensure the efficacy of the procedure,” said Lynda M. Burdelik, special agent-in-charge of the FDA’s Chicago Field Office. “Utilizing instruments designed for animal use in humans can put patients at risk. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who use unapproved devices on their human patients.”

IUI, or intrauterine insemination, is an artificial insemination procedure used to treat infertility.

“The use of a veterinary device in a medical procedure like IUI poses a danger to the health and safety of patients,” said U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who endanger the public health through the use of adulterated medical devices.”

Brasch faces up to a year in federal prison and a fine up to $100,000 if convicted of the two charges, “receipt in interstate commerce and delivery of an adulterated device.”

This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Doctor used veterinary catheters on human patients in Illinois for years, feds say."