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Ex-Pain Clinic Doctor Grilled at ['Pill Mill'] Trial - He Admits Role in Dispensing Drugs
 

 
Michael Perlstein; The Times-Picayune (New Orleans); 2006-07-11. Posted: 2006-07-15.
[Identifier: http://www.doctordeluca.com/Library/WOD/WPS13-NoPillMill/NoPillMillDrGrilled06.htm]
[Source: http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-6/11525988987660.xml?NSCRI&coll=1]
 
Related resources:
PAIN RELIEF NETWORK website
 
War on Doctors Academic and Legal archives  ;  Drug War Journalism and Advocacy archives
  
See also:
The New Orleans 'Pill Mill' Case - Venal Pols and Prosecutors Conspire to Ban Pain Management
WAR ON PAIN SUFFERERS #13; compiled by Alexander DeLuca; 2006-07-15
 
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Dr. Joseph Guenther was supposed to be the star witness against the owner of a chain of pain management clinics and one of its physicians, but during cross-examination Monday Guenther admitted that he alone bears the blame for the prescriptions he wrote.

"It was my responsibility," said Guenther, who earlier pleaded guilty to dispensing narcotics without a medical purpose and is hoping for leniency in upcoming sentencing in exchange for his testimony.

Cherlyn "Cookie" Armstrong, owner of the now-shuttered Scherer's clinics, and Dr. Suzette Cullins, one of Scherer's chief physicians, are on trial for conspiracy to dispense narcotics without a medical purpose. Armstrong also faces one count of money laundering.

As the trial in federal court entered its second week, defense attorneys ramped up their rhetoric and tactics, apparently sensing a chance to score points through one of the government's key witnesses. Guenther worked for several years at Armstrong's clinics, rotating among the branch locations in Metairie, Slidell and Gretna. The clinics were shut down after being raided by Drug Enforcement Administration agents in April 2005.

Guenther earlier testified about the clinics' assembly-line version of practicing medicine, including lightning-fast patient examinations, bare-bones facilities and stacks of prewritten prescriptions which were used to dole out the same treatment to almost every patient. A drug cocktail of pain killer oxycodone, muscle relaxant Soma and anti-anxiety drug Xanax was issued to patients every two weeks: 210 pills per prescription. As Scherer's grew to become a $150,000 a week operation, cash only, Armstrong eventually opened pharmacies adjacent to her Metairie and Slidell clinics to dispense the pill treatment.

While prosecutors have portrayed the clinics' approach as cookie-cutter medicine that was indiscriminate, dangerous and easily abused by addicts, Guenther testified Monday that he considered the narcotics trio an effective pain treatment.

"As far as you were concerned, it was an appropriate, medically effective combination?" asked Armstrong's attorney, Michael Fawer.

"Yes," Guenther responded.

"And you still think it's appropriate?" Fawer asked.

"As long as it's taken as directed," Guenther said.

While Guenther said the standard prescription was given to almost any patient who complained about pain, he admitted he had the authority to change the dosage or potency as he saw fit.

"You were free to alter it, but you faced resistance (from the patients) if you did," Guenther testified, saying he didn't want to rack up too many complaints and risk his job.

Guenther also said he was very reluctant to plead guilty, but was convinced by his family to throw himself on the mercy of the court. He admitted he was coached extensively by prosecutors, even engaging in "heated discussions" with lead prosecutor Tony Sanders about his testimony.

Michael Perlstein can be reached at mperlstein@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3316.

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