By Alabama Public Radio
Mobile, AL – A grand jury in New York has subpoenaed a Mobile doctor who withdrew about 3,700 diagnoses for the lung ailment silicosis. Hundreds of lawsuits from several states about exposure to silicosis have been consolidated in Texas federal court. Doctor George Martindale has been asked to provide documents. Silicosis is a lung scarring disease caused by inhaling quartz dust--usually from work sites. Martindale earlier said he'd made diagnoses without seeing the patients or being knowledgeable about the lung disorder. He also says he thought he was just giving a second opinion, so he later withdrew the diagnoses. During hearings, Federal Judge Janis Graham Jack told lawyers she sensed red flags of fraud. The judge then demanded that doctors working for plaintiffs explain some of the diagnoses.