Alexander DeLuca, M.D.
Addiction, Pain, & Public Health website   
[Home] [Library]  [Slides]  [Search]  [Medline]  [Links]
Statement of Purpose; Privacy policy; Email Confidentiality Policy; Statements of Ownership & Sponsorship; Advertising policy

Doc [Edwin] Faces Narcotics Charges
Rx allegations: Parambaloth Edwin had offices in Wilmington, Dwight
 

 
Kim Smith; Herald News Online, Chicago; Issued: 2005-06-02
Posted: 2005-06-05; Modified: 2005-06-05
 [DC.identifier=http://www.doctordeluca.com/Library/WOD/DocEdwinFedIndict05.htm#]
[DC.relation=http://www.doctordeluca.com/Library/LibPages/WODjournalism-lib.htm#]
 

[Full Text of this Article in Adobe PDF format]

[NOTE: my sarcastic, yet hopefully a little informative, commentary below is in 'Tahoma; 10 point; bold; italic; navy font' - sorry, couldn't resist doing a drive-by on this piece of trash drug war journalism.  ..alex...]

A doctor who practiced medicine in Wilmington and Dwight was indicted on federal narcotics charges Tuesday.

Dr. Parambaloth Edwin is accused of distributing the prescription painkiller Hydrocodone to at least a dozen patients between 2001 and 2003. Hydrocodone is the generic name for Vicodin and is considered a controlled substance. [True, but when formulated as low-dosage in combo with tylenol it is considered an opioid of low potency and abuse potential hence its higher controlled substance schedule number - hydrocodone in low-dose combination with tylenol is a Schedule III controlled substance (I think), not a Schedule II opioid like morphine, methadone, or high-dose, long-acting formulations like Duragesic (fentanyl) or OxyContin (oxycodone) - it is not clear to me exactly which schedule hydrocodone we are talking about in this case, or perhaps both type were involved?]

Edwin also is accused of failing to maintain accurate records for more than 50,000 Hydrocodone tablets in various strengths that he dispensed to patients, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department. [Denominator Abuse! Denominator Abuse! 50,000 tablets OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME? TO HOW MANY PATIENTS? Let's see, if he had, say, only 50 chronic pain patients getting a very conservative six pills of Norco daily for mild-to-moderate pain (it is too weak for moderate-to-severe pain, usually), that would be 50 patients X 6 pills/day = 300 pills/day X 365 days/year = 109,500 pills/year. Huh? Naked numerators ARE DECEPTIVE].

Authorities became suspicious of Edwin after the deaths of six of his patients.

Grundy County Coroner John Callahan has said his office investigated the deaths of four of Edwin's patients in a year-and-a-half time span. Three deaths were multiple drug overdoses, and one was a direct result of prescription narcotics abuse, Callahan said in a Herald News story in April 2003.

"From what I understand, people would travel a great distance to see this doctor," Callahan said Wednesday. "These kinds of deaths can be frustrating because unless there is a note, it is tough to determine whether or not the cause of death is accidental." [Ahh, OK, I'm convinced... of something...]

An additional two deaths were investigated by Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil's office.

[Top of Page]

One of those deaths was that of Victoria Newell, 50, of Wilmington. She was found dead in her living room one day after having an appointment with Edwin. Postmortem tests found evidence of four pain medications, seizure disorder medicine, depression medication and anxiety drugs in her system. Numerous pill bottles were found in her house. Some of the bottles were labeled and others were not. [Bad Dr. Edwin? Hmmm.]

Ann Hillis, Newell's mother, testified at her daughter's inquest that Edwin was known as the "Candyman" because of his penchant for pushing pain pills, according to Herald News files. [Dude, she called you Candyman; like <Ouch!>, Dude.]

Detective Todd Lyons of the Wilmington police also testified at the inquest, which was in March 2003. He spoke of Edwin's reputation for passing out and handing out pain medications.

Edwin, 64, of Dwight was charged with 12 counts of illegal distribution of Hydrocodone and five counts of failing to maintain accurate records of the Hydrocodone that he obtained from pharmaceutical companies. [C'mon! Is this all they got?]

According to the indictment, between Aug. 14, 2001, and March 18, 2003, Edwin illegally dispensed a total of 685 Hydrocodone tablets in various strengths to 12 unnamed patients at his Wilmington office. The indictment alleges that Edwin illegally distributed amounts ranging between three to 120 Hydrocodone tablets to each of the 12 patients on a dozen different dates. [A perfect example of Flash Trash! Do the math: 685 tabs/19 months = 36 tabs/month = 1.8 tabs/working day of a Schedule III (I think) drug, not Schedule II.  And even if the Sched II variety, Big Deal. <Jeez!>]

Edwin's medical license was suspended by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation in April 2003, about a week after drug enforcement agents executed searches at his Wilmington office, at 201 E. Kahler Road. Patient records were seized. The office has been closed since then. [Quintessential rigged game - the entire force of State and Fed brutally thrown against this lone doctor for vague charges that reek of a pattern of Vindictive Prosecution as we have seen it over and over and over again. Seriously question the Government on this one is what my experienced gut tells me; the policeman is not always your friend; the policeman is not always fair and honest].

A computer search still lists Edwin as a doctor practicing medicine at 104 W. Main St. in Dwight. A man answering the telephone number listed for the Dwight office said he was the son of the former doctor.

"My dad does not want to comment," the son said. [No fool, him. Frankly reporter Kim Smith, you sound like a prosecution puppet - c'mon Girl! - use your head a little, Ask Real Questions, Make Like a Journalist <i give up>]

There was no listing for his former Wilmington office.

If the doctor is convicted, each count of illegal distribution carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each count of failing to maintain accurate records carries a minimum penalty of four years in prison and another $250,000 fine.

Edwin still faces a trial and will be arraigned in U.S. District Court on a date yet to be determined.

[Dr. Edwin, I do not know you well. I sincerely hope this is as bullshit as it seems and that our beleaguered community of (mostly ex) pain docs and current pain patients and legal-types of (mostly) good will (be careful!) can offer you some advice and counsel and compassion. You know where to find us: http://www.painreliefnetwork.org/  - Good luck, Sir, it is horrible this is happening to us all.  ..alex...]

[Full Text of this Article in Adobe PDF format]

[END]