What situations surrounding the prescription of opioid analgesics warrant your investigation?
AD: Due to the large area I cover, I typically am able to only respond to calls from citizens regarding the actions of a physician. The first thing I do is contact the physician and get more information. Ninety percent of the time, I am able to discuss the complaint with the physician and find that no inappropriate action has taken place. Often, the patient or family member making the complaint is misinformed. Accusations of this type are screened extremely carefully, and persons intentionally making false accusations are prosecuted. In the other 10% of cases, there is evidence of inappropriate action on the part of the physician. However, often the action has been unethical but not illegal. Less than 1% of the calls I investigate result in criminal charges. ALC: What percentage of physicians prescribing Schedule II analgesics get into trouble that impacts their licensure? AD: Almost none. It is extremely rare. Generally, if a problem does occur, it begins when a physician prescribes t
