Chester County doctor charged in scheme to illegally prescribe opioid pills

Posted On:   23 April 2018

Harrisburg, US – 9th March, 2018: A Chester County doctor was arrested and charged with illegally prescribing nearly 25,000 oxycodone, OxyContin, methadone and other pills to at least four patients, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Friday.

Dr. Bruce Lief, 77, of Chesterbrook, Tredyffrin Township, a psychiatrist, was arrested following a lengthy investigation.

“As these cases show, the illegal diversion of prescription drugs is fueling the opioid epidemic across Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “Last year, our arrests for diversions increased 72 percent from the previous year. Whether you’re a psychiatrist in Philadelphia, a pediatrician in Blair County or a dealer on a street corner, if you illegally divert prescription drugs, you will be prosecuted by my office.”

A pharmacist at a Whitemarsh Pharmacy in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, discovered that the opioid prescription written by Lief was intended for a person living in an assisted living facility run by Genesis HealthCare. She later found that nursing home staff administered the medication. The patient’s son or a daughter-in-law regularly filled the prescription, which caused the pharmacist to look into the matter initially, Shapiro said.

When she called Lief to ask about the prescription, he was evasive and wouldn’t discuss the matter, officials said. The pharmacist subsequently noted the patient’s file so that staff wouldn’t fill the prescription.

Lief was later questioned by investigators and claimed he ran a pain management practice in addition to his psychiatric practice. Lief told authorities he was prescribing opioids to the son of the Whitemarsh pharmacy patient, whose file triggered the suspicion. When staff at the nursing home where the patient lived asked about the excess prescriptions, the man moved out of the nursing facility, officials said.

In a follow-up interview, Lief admitted to investigators he wasn’t certified to practice pain management, but said he felt he was competent enough to prescribe pain medications. While authorities were present, one of Lief’s pain management patients visited his practice, and paid $240 in cash for a prior visit. That’s when Lief told investigators his pain management clients paid in cash, even though they had valid insurance, and he admitted to prescribing an “excessive amount of opioids” because he needed the money to pay bills, officials said.

Records showed that Lief didn’t physically examine patients or require them to be present when he wrote the prescriptions, according to the attorney general’s office.

“Because of this pharmacist’s vigilance, our agents and Whitemarsh police were able to identify a doctor engaging in illegal prescriptions,” Shapiro said. “We’re asking pharmacists and medical professionals across our commonwealth: If you see something, say something. My office will act on your information and investigate.”

Studies show that 80 percent of heroin users begin their drug use by abusing prescription opioids.

“This arrest highlights the importance of the prescription drug monitoring program. Without this valuable resource, law enforcement may not have been able to determine that drugs were being funneled from a physician for illegal street sales,” said Pete Weeks, Blair County First Assistant District Attorney.

Shapiro said his office will continue to vigorously fight the ongoing opioid epidemic.

“These illegal diversions are driving this terrible epidemic,” Shapiro said. “We’re doing whatever it takes across our commonwealth to attack this problem in doctors’ offices, medical offices – and anywhere anyone is illegally diverting prescription drugs. Thanks to strong law enforcement collaboration, these doctors will face justice.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Rebecca L. Delbaggio, 46, a Hollidaysburg pediatrician, was arrested this week in another case and charged with illegally writing prescriptions for Oxycodone and Xanax for her paramour, Andrew Smithmyer, 26, of Altoona, who was also charged.

Lief was arrested and charged and released on $100,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 16. Lief will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Daniel Sweeney. Lief faces 12 felony counts for illegally prescribing the opioid pills. The case against Lief will be prosecuted in Chester County Common Pleas Court.

Source: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20180309/NEWS/180309710