Florida Doctor Faces OxyContin Manslaughter Charges
January 16, 2002
A Florida doctor whose excessive Oxycontin prescriptions may have killed four patients went on trial yesterday. Dr. James Graves prescribed the painkiller more frequently than any other doctor in the state. Oxycontin is a powerful medication which has been linked to hundreds of overdose deaths. The drug produces a heroin-like high when crushed and snorted or mixed with water and injected.
Family members of the deceased and several area pharmacists claim that Graves prescribed the drug in excess. As a result, many area pharmacists stopped filling Oxycontin prescriptions written by Graves. After the deaths, prosecutors charged Graves with four counts of manslaughter. He also faces racketeering charges for allegedly selling Oxycontin prescriptions to known drug dealers. If convicted on all counts, Graves faces up to thirty years in prison.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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