http://www.aaameds.com - $20 Discount for VIP's



Other Related Topics >> Laws, Regulations, and Enforcement

Pages: 1
DrugBuyersAdministrator
Administrator


Reged: 11/18/01
Posts: 1226
Loc: DrugBuyers.Com
Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions
      #169992 - 06/20/04 07:34 PM

LINK

Quote:


Published June 20, 2004
Doctor indicted over illegal prescriptions


By The Associated Press
St. Louis — A 78-year-old Jefferson County doctor faces federal charges for allegedly writing 50,000 illegal prescriptions, prosecutors said.
Dr. Harry Meyer Katz, whose office is in Cedar Hill, was charged with 14 counts related to the illegal dispensation of prescription drugs, including Valium, Xanax and an acetaminophen with codeine pain reliever.

The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, alleges Katz wrote unnecessary prescriptions for the drugs in exchange for $40 cash from people starting in June 1999.

Prosecutors said if Katz is convicted, they'll try to seize $2 million from the doctor for 2.5 million illegal doses of prescription drugs. The indictment said Katz has about $2.2 million in two online stock brokerage accounts, $400,000 in mutual funds and $50,000 in the bank.

His attorney, Vernon Dawdy, said Katz will plead innocent. He said the charges are not true.

The Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission said last year in a separate inquiry that Katz, who was convicted of five counts of Medicare fraud in Florida in 1971, saw up to 500 patients per week.

Dawdy said it would be possible to issue 50,000 legitimate prescriptions over the past five years. He said the doctor can see nine to 27 patients as day, and some might get multiple prescriptions.

"He doesn't do any surgery, which might consume time," Dawdy said.

The commission also reported that Katz lost his license in three other states because of his Florida conviction.

Missouri's Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, which is responsible for disciplining doctors, said last year it could not take action against Katz for some of the violations because they were "too remote in time."

Katz kept his license to practice medicine, but was placed on probation for five years and barred from prescribing controlled substances during that period. Katz appealed and the case is pending before the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Dawdy said the Board of Registration allowed Katz to remain licensed to practice medicine.

"The medical board had a problem with this record-keeping, basically," Dawdy said.






--------------------
"Whosoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others." Dr Albert Schweitzer


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
roxeanne
Member


Reged: 02/24/02
Posts: 192
Loc: I Come From Mars!
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: DrugBuyers]
      #170152 - 06/21/04 02:54 PM

These government agents are working hard to keep suffering patients in pain.

I think it will be quite ironic when some of these "crime fighters" need to be treated for a painful condition and are unable to get treatment for their pain because they've either sent all the compassionate doctors to jail, revoked their licenses, or scared them half to death.

They will then probably begin to rethink their "war on drug diversion" tactics.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
bargsbeer69
Journeyman


Reged: 03/22/04
Posts: 80
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: roxeanne]
      #171059 - 06/25/04 11:29 PM

Ya know what i don't understand we Hire Doctor' and pay for their Expertise and knowledge because they are the Best at what they do.If Dr Katz felt it was necessary to write those Prescriptions then im sorry who am i tell Him how todo his Job .I didn't goto Medical School i don't know how to prescribe medications or diagnose,treat ,cure any disease or ailment. I dunno Maybe they should go back research some of his past patient' see what they have to say.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
PIGINPAIN
Journeyman


Reged: 06/10/04
Posts: 85
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: roxeanne]
      #171197 - 06/26/04 09:14 PM

"These government agents are working hard to keep suffering patients in pain.

I think it will be quite ironic when some of these "crime fighters" need to be treated for a painful condition and are unable to get treatment for their pain because they've either sent all the compassionate doctors to jail, revoked their licenses, or scared them half to death.

They will then probably begin to rethink their "war on drug diversion" tactics."
----------------------------

What tactic is that exactly? Please describe the "war on drug diversion" and how it pertains to CP patients.

The USC, FDA regulations, and DEA guidelines are VERY clear on one point. DON'T SELL PRESCRIPTIONS. Prescribe any drug you like for a bone fide medical condition and document how you diagnosed the patient, what meds, and when. Show me a doctor that was successfully prosecuted after following those guidelines. If you want to give C-II's in large quantities for long periods, use and follow the DEA's pain contract and they CAN'T prosecute you unless you literally overdose the patient to death through negligence.

It is SOOOO easy to blame the "feds" or LE for arresting doctors. The fact is that they don't want to do it because the cases are VERY complicated, require a TON of overtime and officers, and the docs usually have the best lawyers and receive light sentences. The fact is that if, as this story specifically states, the doctor was "selling" prescriptions without even having a medical record then the doctor broke the law.

Getting pain control in a legal manner from most doctors is easy and relatively inexpensive. Feeding an addiction through questionable doctors is dangerous and expensive. There are simple rules for getting effective pain control legally they are posted on this board under the DEA guidelines. Would someone PLEASE show me a case where that guideline was followed EXACTLY and the doctor or patient or pharmacist was SUCCESSFULLY prosecuted. If you can do that I will shut up about this point.

PS. I arrested a local nurse from an ER for stealing, selling, and using C-II narcotics. When I was injured in the line of duty about six months later I was transported to that same ER for treatment. Guess what, there were several new COMPETENT nurses there to care for me. For every bad doc or nurse that gets busted, there are 10 good ones waiting in line for the job.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
tesla
Newbie


Reged: 04/20/02
Posts: 26
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: PIGINPAIN]
      #172317 - 07/02/04 11:11 AM

Dear Mr. PiginPain:

Just how long have you been a chronic pain patient because my view of the ability to have my injury-induced nerve damage treated in the past 6 years very difficult due to the doctors' fear of being arrested in their offices by flak-jacketed SWAT teams and having all their assets seized and not returned despite of the doctors' innocence?

I support our police but the war on drugs apparently affects non-police patients differently.

Have a pain-free day everyone.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
cocolarue
Stranger


Reged: 05/05/04
Posts: 11
Loc: USA
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: tesla]
      #172319 - 07/02/04 11:43 AM

Hey PiginPain, I thought only pharmacies could dispense drugs, not doctors. Or am I wrong on this? I know doctors can give you samples but he/she cannot sell them to you and usaully they are not narcotics.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Selby
Enthusiast


Reged: 10/09/02
Posts: 230
Loc: the coast down under
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: cocolarue]
      #172332 - 07/02/04 12:46 PM

Dr.s usually have to register with the state when they issue their own scripts but they can do it just like a pharmacy.

--------------------
The Moose is Loose!


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
PIGINPAIN
Journeyman


Reged: 06/10/04
Posts: 85
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: tesla]
      #172357 - 07/02/04 03:18 PM

Mr. PiginPain sounds like my dad, you can call me Pig or just piginpain. I assure you I have been called far worse.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that to a small degree LE gets better meds and care in the ER. I think the problem you may be facing is the community that you are in. I have lived all over the U.S., and other countries, and I have come to the OPINION that doctors in a certain area seem to think alike in terms of treatment.

To answer your question, I have been a CP patient for almost 12 years now. The point is that working LE in my area is a very dangerous job and I am a Type- A personality with enough testosterone to float a battleship.

I always suggest to people that CP try visiting a different city on vacation and see what their ER is like. The ER can often set the tone for the local docs. Also, it is my PERSONAL experience that internal medicine docs make the best CP docs.

Also, can everyone back off on the whole "LE" thing, I am getting a bit tired of it. First, a "flak jacket" was worn by WWII pilots to prevent injury from anti-aircraft fire, police wear ballistic vests made from Kevlar. Second, SWAT teams are rarely, if ever, used for non-violent arrests like a doctor's office. Third, the feds and state narcs handle 99.9% of the doctor arrests. Us local boys just go along for backup. We are humans just like you. We have families, homes, and problems. Some of us don’t like the drug laws, others do. The problem is we swear a solemn oath to uphold the laws established by the people. I get so tired of people complaining about bad laws. If you don’t like a law, get it repealed. If you don’t know how or don’t believe it’s possible then PM so we can talk.

In closing let's consider something I have said since I started posting here. Generalizations are a dangerous and slippery slope unless used very carefully and with appropriate factual basis. Saying that "Non-police get treated differently" is a joke. I have had to repeatedly deal with lectures from doctors because LE has one of the highest substance abuse rates there is. Let me give you a glimpse of why...

We work MANDATORY overtime every week, as in "you are required by law to stay and work and if you make certain mistakes you go to jail and lose your job." We see gross and nasty things most people don't even have nightmares about. I have personally watched: A man burn to death 15 feet from his son (who beat the heck out of me trying to get to his dad). I had to help the coroner pull an entire dead family of five from a car including a 15 month old. I had to investigate the beating death, by a mom, of an 8 month old. I had to take the life of a fellow human being who was high on illegal drugs, pulled a weapon after I caught him in a foot pursuit, and was stupid enough to bring a knife to a gunfight. In fourteen years I have been taken to the ER 12 times for: fractured vertebrae, broken leg, broken arm, fractured cheek, broken tooth, three broken fingers, knife wound to leg, and because I went into shock after killing a guy and couldn’t stop shaking or crying.

I am a person like 90% of the people on this board. Just because I am LE doesn't mean that I get better drugs, more of them, or that I am a junky. I joined this board for the same reason I became a cop, I love to help people. And yet, since I joined this board 50% of the people here have attacked me solely for being LE, the rest have thanked me for clearing up the myths that abound around here. I also joined DB, as I told others in PM's, because I was tired of watching a small group of members, most seemed to be young and/or uneducated, cause fear and panic throughout this board by providing false information, spreading rumors, and giving BAD legal advise. I DEFINITELY MAKE MISTAKES, so I am not trying to say that all of my answers are correct, but I do have a few areas that I can provide decent information in. The key to everything you read here, EVERYTHING- CHECK IT YOURSELF OR DON’T TRUST IT. Even the brightest on this board make a goof every now and then.

Last piece of advice I will offer on the subject and this one should be posted across every board, wall, and email that is ever written.... IF ANYONE THAT IS A CP PATIENT IS BEING UNDER TREATED, HERE IS MY ADVICE ON HOW TO HANDLE IT... WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR LOCAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO THE DA HIM/HERSELF. TELLING THEM ABOUT YOUR CONDITION/DIAGNOSIS. TELL THEM THAT YOU DOCTOR IS AFRAID TO PRESCIBE WHATEVER MEDICINE IT IS THAT YOU NEED DUE TO FEAR OF CRIMINAL ACTION. SEND THEM A COPY OF YOUR TESTS AND MEDICAL RECORDS. THEN SEND A "CC" COPY TO THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, YOUR STATE MEDICAL LICENSEING BOARD, THE DEA, AND THE PHARMACY WHO DISPENSES FOR YOU. THEN GO BACK AND SHOW YOUR DOCTOR THAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS AND TELL THEM THAT YOU WANT A "DEA PAIN CONTRACT" FOR MEDICATION THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.

Sound silly??? It works. The doctor then becomes afraid of NOT treating you for pain. The new DEA and AMA guidelines push pain treatment. The AMA has recently even gone so far as to say that pain is an illness in and of its self. The problem is that most docs don't know how to, or want to, follow the guidelines. The DEA and AMA will respond with letters telling you that CP can be managed and giving you instructions on how. Take these to your doc and show them... Not a fool proof plan, but better than doing nothing and being in pain... This also gives you a record you can take to another pain doc if the first is unresponsive.

Just my thoughts. Intelligent replies, as 90% of you usually make, are definitely sought…. Just don’t reply with “my uncle’s brother’s cousin’s butcher’s hair stylist was arrested for doing just that.” LE can help with the process of CP mgmt, if it’s done right and there is a legitimate need. Just because I am LE doesn’t mean I get “free morphine” anytime I want, besides I prefer Dilaudid and they only give cops that after getting promoted to asst. chief or above LOL….


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead


Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 868
Loc: usa
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: PIGINPAIN]
      #172362 - 07/02/04 03:46 PM

Easy and inexpensive to get meds prescribed for legimate conditions????? What fairy land do YOU live in??? I live in a major metropolitan city, Phoenix AZ and have to fly to El Paso Texas to get cII's prescribed. The docs here are so OPIOPHOBIC due to the DEA they universally DON'T believe in prescribing narcotics for chronic pain!!! And my "condition" is well documented....I;ve had 2 spinal fusions, permanent nerve damage and over 10 surgeries!! Yet I have to get on a plane, every two months to get the treatment I need. And they are saying as things develop, I may have to actually fly out MONTHLY to get my scripts....oh, I could take the advice of the surgeons who treated me here in PHoenix, and go on disability....at 1/4 my current annual earnings. And I would still be in constant, unbearable pain....how would that benefit me or society???? Why should I have to choose between working and being pain free? You have a myopic view my friend

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Tred
Enthusiast


Reged: 10/18/03
Posts: 261
Loc: USA
Re: Dr. Katz indicted over illegal prescriptions [Re: IMSUSCOT1]
      #172405 - 07/02/04 07:10 PM

Well said PigInPain. First, let me say thanks for being a part of this board and please don't let others here get you down with their harsh remarks at times. I've been getting a lot of heat for some of my views too and I try to realize that most here are good human beings, with good intentions.

I agree that the best thing people can do on this board is to take action with congress and other forms of legal institutions. What advice you said, is very interesting and I may just take you up on that and see what happens.

When others here say the DEA is the cause of all doctors not wanting to prescribe, we'll that may be the case in most, but some may just plain and simple, not want to prescribe the medication because they don't feel it's necessary. We don't' really know what our pcp's thoughts on this are, unless we ask.. So, instead of guessing what's going on, we should ask..

Tred =)

--------------------
Entertainment Specialist!


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Pages: 1



Extra information
2 registered and 5 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  Heidi, Melody 

Print Topic

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is enabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Rating:
Topic views: 1033

Rate this topic

Jump to

Help & Contact Information | Privacy statement | Rules Free Members Area

*
UBB.threads™ 6.5
With Modifications from ThreadsDev.com by Joshua Pettit