By the late 1990s and early 2000s, this internecine fighting became especially intense, culminating in even more serious allegations made against laparoscopists, including Nezhat, who had come to represent one of the minimally invasive movement's most visible leaders.
The passage describes a period of heightened conflict among surgeons, particularly those specializing in laparoscopic procedures. This conflict led to serious allegations being made against prominent figures like Nezhat, who was known for his advocacy of minimally invasive techniques.