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Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, Inc.
A Voice for Private Physicians Since 1943
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News of the Day ... in Perspective

3/9/2005

LIFE SENTENCE RECOMMENDED FOR VIRGINIA PAIN DOCTOR

Stunned from medical community

Sentencing scheduled April 14

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The U.S. attorney who promised to "root out doctors like the Taliban" has recommended that a federal judge sentence Virginia pain specialist, William Hurwitz, M.D. to a life sentence.  Most other convicted pain-management doctors have received sentences much shorter than the one recommended in this case.

 

Dr. Hurwitz was convicted on 50 federal charges in December in relation to his prescriptions of legal painkillers. The government claimed that Dr. Hurwitz knowingly prescribed medications for patients to sell. 

 

Dr. Hurwitz's defense demonstrated that the patients in question were experienced con artists who also managed to con the DEA as well.  At least two of the prosecutor’s “star witnesses” were getting prescriptions from other doctors even while being “handled” by the DEA to go undercover to gather evidence against Dr. Hurwitz.

 

As defense attorney Hallinan said, "these people were predators...and had played doctors for years" to get drugs.  And that it was because of Dr. Hurwitz's belief in his responsibility to treat patients in pain without making judgment about whether they were good enough people to “deserve” treatment.  “His belief in his ethical duty is the key to the door of his office for these thieves and predators.”

 

The Washington Post quotes the stunned reaction of Russell Portenoy, chairman of pain medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York:  "That's really something. That's unbelievable...Such an extreme sentence sends the message to the medical community that the government will continue to go after doctors."

 

AAPS has written a letter to the judge requesting leniency for Dr. Hurwitz. Sentencing is scheduled for April 14.

 

READ THE ENTIRE WASHINGTON POST STORY

 

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