Opinion ID: 3153469
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pakistani Medical Education

Text: When the prosecutor was cross-examining Dr. Simopoulos, he asked whether Dr. Simopoulos knew where Dr. Azmat went to medical school. Dr. Simopoulos stated that he could not recall. The prosecutor responded: “Pakistan? Does that ring a bell?” Dr. Simopoulos stated it did ring a bell, but he could not recall the name of Dr. Azmat’s university. Dr. Simopoulos indicated he 47 Case: 14-13703 Date Filed: 11/10/2015 Page: 48 of 60 was not familiar with the courses that Dr. Azmat would have taken in a Pakistani medical school. Defense counsel moved for a mistrial, arguing that the prosecutor improperly inserted comments about Dr. Azmat’s nationality in order to influence the jury. The district court overruled the motion, finding that the comment was a “low blow” but that it did not warrant a mistrial because it was relevant to what the expert knew about Dr. Azmat’s background and experience when he was evaluating Dr. Azmat’s medical files. Because defense counsel timely objected, we review this allegation of prosecutorial misconduct de novo. United States v. Duran, 596 F.3d 1283, 1299 (11th Cir. 2010). In determining whether there was prosecutorial misconduct, we examine whether the prosecutor’s remarks were (1) improper and (2) prejudicially affected the defendant’s substantial rights. United States v. Lopez, 590 F.3d 1238, 1256 (11th Cir. 2009). A prosecutor’s remarks, suggestions, insinuations, and assertions are improper when they are calculated to mislead or inflame the jury’s passions. United States v. Rodriguez, 765 F.2d 1546, 1560 (11th Cir. 1985). A defendant is prejudiced by a prosecutor’s remarks when there is a reasonable probability that, but for the improper comments, the result of the trial would have been different. Lopez, 590 F.3d at 1256. We consider whether a 48 Case: 14-13703 Date Filed: 11/10/2015 Page: 49 of 60 defendant’s substantial rights were prejudiced “in the context of the entire trial, along with any curative instruction.” Id. We agree that the prosecutor’s line of questioning, while distasteful, was not improper. See id. We must so conclude because, taken in context, the prosecutor was asking questions to show that Dr. Azmat may have been unfamiliar with the standard of care in Georgia or the United States, supporting the government’s contention that he was writing prescriptions outside of the usual course of professional practice. The prosecutor’s questions during this portion of the trial also tended to show that Dr. Simopoulos reviewed Dr. Azmat’s files without familiarizing himself with Dr. Azmat’s background and qualifications. As cross-examination requires probing a witness’s credibility, and Dr. Simopoulos’s perceived unfamiliarity with the case had the potential to undercut his direct testimony, the prosecutor’s questions were relevant and were not calculated to inflame the jury. See Rodriguez, 765 F.2d at 1560. Furthermore, even if the questions were improper, there was overwhelming evidence of Dr. Azmat’s guilt on all counts, and there is not a reasonable probability that Dr. Azmat would have been acquitted if the jury had never learned that he went to school in Pakistan. See Lopez, 590 F.3d at 1256. 49 Case: 14-13703 Date Filed: 11/10/2015 Page: 50 of 60