A seasoned physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has agreed to a $25,000 settlement to resolve claims that he misused his prescription pad, particularly regarding opioids. Dr. Edgar Ross, who has worked in Boston for 70 years, did not adhere to Controlled Substances Act standards when issuing prescriptions beyond standard professional practices, as per the agreement with federal authorities. After one of his patients overdosed and had multiple hospital stays, the hospital transferred the patient to a different doctor for care.
We're talking about dosages, refill timing, and a substantial amount of documentation that was not quite accurate. This practitioner provided early refills simply because the patient asked, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. It raises questions about whether patient wellness or avoiding confrontation influenced these decisions. It's a gray area, a complex mix of judgment calls in the space between patient care and patient harm.
Dr. Ross is now facing three years of oversight with a compliance monitor, a provision of the settlement he agreed to, in hopes of preventing future lapses. "Safe prescribing of drugs—particularly opioids—is essential to patient and public safety and a priority for our office," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. "This settlement is an example of how our office and the DEA work to ensure that doctors prescribe dangerous medications only when they are acting within the scope of proper professional practice and with appropriate safeguards in place to prevent and address abuse."
The deal also includes a provision where Dr. Ross agrees to a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA, essentially a promissory note committing to follow the rules moving forward. Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA New England Field Division, echoed this commitment, stating, "DEA registrants are responsible for handling controlled substances responsibly and ensuring that complete and accurate records are being properly kept and accounted for in compliance with the Controlled Substances Act." He added, "We are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that these rules and regulations are followed," as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Thus, the vigilance continues for both compliant and non-compliant practices in the management of controlled substances.
