Walla Walla Doctor in Big Trouble

A physician in Walla Walla is no longer allowed to prescribe pain pills after his patient died. An investigation by the Medical Commission is turning up highly questionable behavior.

The most recent troubles are over the fact the doctor gave a patient too much pain medication, poor instructions, and did not follow procedure for monitoring the patient's health. As a result, the 39-year-old patient died of overdose three days later.

But an investigation is revealing how frequently the doctor prescribed dangerous, highly-addictive opiates without seeing patients, without making them undergo urine tests, and without even checking to see if his dosages were appropriate for symptoms.

Basically, if people wanted opiates, it appears he gave it to them. One family from Clarkston, Idaho, (200 miles away) was able to get pills even though their records indicate a pattern of behaviors exhibited by addicts.

Due process will determine the doctor's level of fault and then certain medical privileges, like subscribing pain medicine, will be taken from him.