New Florida Law Could Put Doctors in the Cross-hairs

St. Petersburg Criminal Attorney and Former State Prosecutor Melinda Morris of the Morris Law Firm discusses the recent law regulating pain clinics which could put doctors in the cross-hairs of State law enforcement.

Issue:

As Florida struggles to deal with the epidemic of pain pill abuse and trafficking, law makers have instituted regulations that cover pain clinics.  Within the new law is a provision that limits the actual number of pain pill prescriptions a physician can write in a single day.  While on its face this provision may seem reasonable, it comes with complexity and unintended consequences for Tampa Bay area doctors.  The proposal is that each full time physician could write a maximum of 150 prescriptions per day while part time doctors could write far fewer based on hours worked.

Florida state medical boards have met to discuss the proposal and have objected to the caps.  Their concerns include how state inspectors would police the new law, and the number of loop holes in the provisions.

Doctors are similarly concerned that the new regulations will increase their costs of providing care and may limit their ability to provide care to patients legitimately in need.

Why This Matters To You:

Given the new regulations and proposals, law abiding physicians could unwittingly prescribe more than the maximum number of scripts provided under the new regulations.  Further, a doctor could be tempted to provide care to a patient in need of pain relief even if they have already filled their daily allowed number of prescriptions.  The added complexity of complying to new legislation opens doctors and office staff to severe criminal charges including Prescription Drug Trafficking.

While Florida continues to address the issue of pain clinics and pain pill abuse, medical professionals including anesthesiologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, internists, family physicians, orthopedists, and gerontologists may find themselves in the cross-hairs of law enforcement.


What To Do Next:

If you have been arrested for Prescription Drug Trafficking, or other drug related crimes contact a St. Petersburg Drug Crimes Attorney to discuss possible defenses and specific strategies that may exist in your case.  Call the Morris Law Firm at 727-388-4736 to discuss your case directly with an attorney, or fill out our Online Form to be contacted for a Free Initial Consultation.  The Morris Law Firm can help and has specific knowledge and experience in defending Drug Crimes offenders throughout Pinellas County and the entire Tampa Bay, FL Area (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Hillsborough, Pasco, Bradenton, Manatee, and Sarasota).