Overprescription Fraud Lawyer
Were You Arrested for Overprescription Fraud? Contact Us for Legal Representation.
There are 2 major forms of prescription fraud:
- Those perpetrated by a patient, and
- Those perpetrated by a physician or other medical professional.
Physicians must be very careful when prescribing drugs that have a high potential for addiction, such as opioids because these highly addictive substances put them at risk of being accused of “pill pushing” when patients start coming back for more. Unfortunately, too many doctors are accused of recklessly writing prescriptions for patients who do not need them. Under California Health & Safety Code Section 11153, prescribing a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose is against the law and can result in serious penalties for those convicted. If this happened to you, we’re here to help.
Pill mills and reckless overprescribing have gotten a lot of attention in the media. This is due in no small part to the opioid epidemic, which has claimed many lives from addicted patients overdosing, getting into car accidents, and otherwise acting recklessly. Law enforcement and prosecutors are cracking down hard on medical professionals accused of overprescribing. A huge component of the opioid epidemic is the fact that doctors write too many prescriptions for strong painkillers, and often unnecessarily. Penalties for felony overprescription charges can range from multimillion-dollar fines to prison time to forfeiture of assets.
Arrested? Our overprescription fraud attorney at Second Chances Law Group, APC can help. Contact us at (626) 827-7222 for a free consultation.
What Constitutes Overprescription Fraud?
A physician or medical professional may be arrested for overprescription fraud for the following reasons:
- The original prescription was unnecessary for the patient’s injuries and/or ailments, or the dosage and duration were unreasonable.
- The prescription was inappropriate for the individual; for example, if they had a prior history of substance abuse.
- The prescription was refilled multiple times without seeing the patient.
- The patient did not give informed consent, or the doctor did not warn their patient about the addictive qualities of a medication.
- The doctor was a “pill pusher” or running a “pill mill” in which s/he wrote an inordinate number of prescriptions, perhaps in order to get perks or kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies.
Legal Defenses to Overprescription Fraud Charges
It is worth noting that a medical professional can only be convicted of overprescription fraud if s/he acted knowingly and wrote a prescription in bad faith for an illegitimate purpose. If you were charged on CHS Section 11153 violations, it’s important to speak to a defense attorney as soon as possible. Our overprescription fraud lawyer at Second Chances Law Group, APC is known as a tough litigator who works aggressively to ensure his clients receive the best possible defense.
For more information about overprescription fraud, please contact us at Second Chances Law Group, APC by calling (626) 827-7222 for a free consultation.