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

Erie Doctor Could Face Up To 44 Years In Prison For Overdosing Patients

by Anonymous reporter; 35WSEE News; 1/26/2005.
Originally posted: 1/26/2005; [www.doctordeluca.com/Library/WPD/KleesFacesPrison05.htm].
Also available from: [http://www.35wsee.com/news2a.cfm?more=7032&category=1&news=fullstory]

[See also: "Dr. Klees Sentenced" a JET-TV News item; air date: 1/25/2005 
and: "Erie Doctor [Heberle] Investigated by DEA & Attorney General" a JET-TV News item; air date: 4/13/2005]

Dr. David Klees was sentenced Tuesday to 13 and a half to 44 years in jail, for over-prescribing painkillers to his patients.

The healer turned into a dealer. That's how prosecutors described Dr. David Klees in late 1999 and early 2000.

It was a mighty fall from one of society's most honored professions. 46-year-old Dr. David Klees was found guilty of recklessly prescribing powerful painkillers for even the slightest aches.

He's charged on 12 counts in all including, risking lives, creating addicts and trading drugs for favors.

"The plan was simply to prescribe prescriptions, and to throw very heavy prescriptions very early in the game, and in consequence," said Doug Wright, Deputy Attorney General. "He did this without any addiction liability or worse, and somebody with a legitimate pain complaint could find themselves addicted real quick."

Defense attorneys did not comment, but clearly, they were not pleased at how severe the sentence was...proof that prosecutors are ready to treat drug dealers seriously, even the ones who went to medical school.
 

[END]