In Montgomery County, Ohio approximately 40 people have reportedly died in suspected overmedication-related deaths in 2011, a death rate that doubles that of other urban Ohio counties. State authorities are cracking down. And if authorities are correct, a Dayton doctor could be staring at the wrong end of several medical malpractice lawsuits brought by families who have lost a loved one to his medical negligence as well as by some patients suffering injuries from overmedication.
The Dayton doctor has not as yet been charged with any crimes, though his medical offices were the subject of a search warrant on October 3, as well as his residence. Police executed a search warrant on each of these three locations and removed records they reportedly would use in an investigation related to medical fraud, prescription drug abuse, and money laundering. The doctor has stated the authorities are “off base” and expressed his need for an attorney. Additionally, he has since closed his medical practice and voluntarily surrendered his license to practice medicine in the state of Ohio.
The Clark County Sherriff’s department stated they were alerted to “a problem” approximately one year ago when a woman who was nine months pregnant attempted to fill a prescription for a powerful pain killer, a prescription that was refused and resulted in notification of the authorities. The Ohio Medical Board has reported that the doctor in question has no record of formal action brought against him and that his license will remain technically active until they meet at their next monthly meeting. The Ohio Medical Board will determine what action, if any, will be taken against the doctor following the voluntary surrender of his medical license.
Authorities are claiming that this doctor was overmedicating people not requiring medical attention and allegedly billing the federal government for medical treatments not rendered. While those are criminal allegations, the facts may be important in any civil medical malpractice claims made against him that allege medication errors.
Source: The Dayton Daily News, “Doctor’s offices raided in pill-mill investigation,” Doug Page, Oct. 4, 2011