WMC-TV: News, Weather, Traffic, Radar, and Sports for Memphis, TN; WMCTV.com | D.E.A agents raid Mid-South doctor's office
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By Andy Wise - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - A Mid-South doctor has been arrested on charges of issuing illegal prescriptions.
Dr. Daniel Fearnow, 57, operating out of the Wickman Family Medical Care Clinic, was arrested early Friday afternoon. Fearnow is charged in a 12-count indictment accusing him of illegally issuing prescriptions.
The indictment alleges that Fearnow, from February 2009 to October 2009, conspired to distribute controlled substances by issuing written prescriptions for drugs outside the normal course of practice and for no legitimate medical purpose. Allegedly, Fearnow illegally wrote prescriptions on several occasions for Oxycodone, Lortab, and Alprazolam (Xanax).
The Action News 5 Investigators confirmed one of the tip-offs was an e-mail sent to Andy Wise a month ago, written by a Batesville, Mississippi pharmacist who asked not to be identified.
In her e-mail, the pharmacist said two Memphis customers "drove 60 miles" to her pharmacy with prescriptions from Fearnow's office. She said Fearnow's prescriptions requested $1,300 worth of Oxycontin and Tussionex, a cough syrup that contains the powerful pain-killer hydrocodone. The two customers were "cash-paying."
The pharmacist said she entered the prescription into her computer system, "the computer system had (Fearnow) flagged as one that may be a 'doctor shop' (sells prescriptions for controlled substances)."
Fearnow is being held on a $15,000 bond.
Health records indicate Fearnow he operates out of two clinics, has no disciplinary history and a license in good standing. Andrea Turner, Tennessee Department of Health spokesperson, says Fearnow's arrest will have "no impact on his license at this point."
The Wickman Family Care Clinic is owned by Dr. John Wickman. State regulators suspended Wickman's medical license in June for "unwanted and inappropriate sexual conduct" with two female patients.
Wickman has not been implicated in Dr. Fearnow's case.
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