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Alexandria, Va. (AP) - A doctor whose pain clinic has drawn hundreds of patients from across the country was arrested Thursday and charged with trafficking drugs that prosecutors allege resulted in the overdose deaths of three patients.
William E. Hurwitz, 57, of McLean, could face life in prison if convicted of the most serious of the 45 drug trafficking counts. He was jailed in Alexandria pending a Monday detention hearing.
Federal prosecutor Paul McNulty said Hurwitz had 472 patients in 39 states. Some came to him legitimately for pain relief, but prosecutors allege others used his prescriptions as a source for dealing OxyContin, the drug he most frequently prescribed.
Hurwitz "under the guise of medical pain management dispensed misery and death to patients who turned to him for relief," McNulty said.
Hurwitz's lawyer, James Hundley, said his client has a legitimate practice. "They're using horribly twisted logic, saying it's drug dealing," he said.
OxyContin is the brand name for a time-release narcotic that when crushed and snorted provides a potent high.
In some cases, Hurwitz would prescribe up to 30 OxyContin pills per day for patients when normal medical practice would allow for two pills a day. In late 2000, he prescribed 30 pills a day for a woman who was pregnant in her third trimester. The baby was born addicted to OxyContin, McNulty said.
The indictment alleges that Hurwitz made nearly $2 million through drug trafficking. McNulty said patients would pay $1,000 for an initial, 20-minute consultation and a $250 monthly maintenance fee to continue receiving the prescriptions.
OK guys- thoughts? Plotinus or any of the legal eagles have any input on what you think will happen to this Dr? If you live in the DC area, this was blasted all over the news on every channel last night. Oh, and a police chief was arrested for having sex with young boys and video taping the acts, and paying the boys $40-$80 per sex act. Guess which one was bigger news?
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VA Doctor Arrested for Trafficking
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