Chronic and severe pain can arise for many reasons. People may have degenerative conditions like multiple sclerosis. They may have traumatic injuries, including significant fractures. They might even have serious pain due to intensive treatment, such as chemotherapy administered to kill cancer.
The intense pain that patients experience can put a lot of stress on their bodies. Pain management is therefore a crucial element of proper medical care. Physicians could theoretically help many people by legally prescribing opioid pain medications.
Modern narcotic pain relievers are highly effective. They are also more accessible and affordable than they were when the only option was traditional opiate drugs. Unfortunately, physicians who make compassion their personal trademark might put themselves at risk of prosecution. The state might accuse them of running a “pill mill.”
What is a pill mill?
Pill mills are medical practices that give out too much pain medication. Some doctors over-prescribe opioids. They don’t scrutinize the claims of a patient presenting concerning symptoms. They may prescribe medication to someone who already has prescriptions from another physician or who doesn’t truly have a debilitating medical condition.
They may offer too many refills or too high of a dose given someone’s condition. They may give medication to someone who already has an opioid use disorder. Particularly in scenarios where doctors prescribe high doses and large quantities of medication without much direct oversight, regulatory officials may view their practices as pill mills.
Both federal and state prosecutors can sometimes bring charges against licensed medical professionals for their prescribing habits. Doctors may end up accused of drug offenses when their only real desire was to improve the quality of life of their patients in pain.
Allegations can cause various consequences
Drug charges related to operating an alleged pill mill can have numerous consequences for a physician. If they are an employee at a corporate medical practice, their job might be at risk. If they plead guilty in the hopes of a lenient sentence, they might lose their license to practice medicine.
Media attention on their criminal case could damage their reputation, especially if they run an independent private practice. A conviction might lead to jail time and financial penalties as well as an inability to practice medicine in the future. Doctors accused of inappropriate prescribing practices may need help defending themselves against those allegations.
Reviewing patient records and current best practices with a skilled legal team could help doctors defend against prescription-related drug charges in criminal court. Physicians who respond assertively to accusations can potentially vindicate their medical decisions and protect their careers.