Under the Collar

Federal prosecutors continue to crack down on doctors who unlawfully distribute controlled substances. While typically exempt from prosecution for the distribution of drugs, doctors can find themselves on the wrong side of the law when their actions are not for legitimate medical purposes and within the usual course of their medical practice.

Courts typically engage in a case-by-case analysis to determine whether a doctor’s prescribing has crossed the line. Questionable practices can include patients traveling long distances while bypassing numerous other physicians; ...