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Mar 16 2022

Former doctor from Albany loses medical license for overprescribing opioids

A former doctor from Albany, New York, was ordered to pay the U.S. government $125,000 for overprescribing controlled substances to patients. He was also required to give up his New York State medical license.

Federal officials accused Dr. James Cole of prescribing high levels of controlled substances beyond the usual scope of his professional practice. The doctor gave patients a “Holy Trinity” combination that consisted of carisoprodol and benzodiazepine, among other drugs. According to authorities, the medical community is of the consensus that the drug cocktail poses a high “risk of abuse and overdose,” along with having no real medical benefits.

One of Cole’s patients died from a fatal overdose of a combination of oxycodone and fentanyl he had prescribed. More than six months earlier, the same patient had overdosed with fentanyl strips. An emergency room doctor confiscated the strips. The next day, however, Cole prescribed more fentanyl strips for the patient along with morphine and oxycodone.

Authorities accused Cole of writing prescriptions that did not have a valid medical purpose. The doctor continued to give opioids and benzodiazepines to patients even though urinalyses indicated they were not taking the drugs regularly. Some patients even admitted to not using the medications at all.

Cole was ordered to pay $125,000 in civil penalties for overprescribing drugs to patients in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. The amount also covered Medicare damages for reimbursements for the illegitimate drug prescriptions.

Additionally, Cole was required to surrender his Drug Enforcement Administration registration and agree not to renew it for a minimum of 15 years. Under a separate agreement with New York State, the doctor also agreed to permanently give up his medical license.

New York medical professionals who are accused of wrongdoing need a smart, reliable legal team in their corner. Brill Legal Group is experienced in representing doctors in all sorts of circumstances, whether they have been arrested for prescription drug fraud or are facing disciplinary hearings.

Prescription drug-related offenses carry harsh penalties, including the loss of your medical license. When your livelihood is on the line, the New York criminal defense attorneys at Brill Legal Group are ready to help.