Multiple doctors and nurses in Middle Tennessee have been charged in part of an illegal prescription investigation which includes fraud schemes.
According to the Department of Justice, nine health care professionals were in Middle Tennessee but there was a total of 60 individuals in six states charged in the sting which found over 350,000 prescriptions were written for controlled substances.
The prescriptions totaled over 32 million pills being dispensed.
Dr. Bowdoin Smith in Carthage, TN was indicted on two counts of prescribing a Schedule II controlled substance outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose, in January and February 2019. The indictment alleges that in October 2012, Smith entered a consent order with the State of Tennessee Department of Health, Board of Osteopathic Examination based on stipulated facts that Smith, among other things, prescribed controlled substances “not in the course of professional practice, or not in good faith to relieve pain and suffering, or not to cure an ailment, physical infirmity or disease,” and Smith’s treatment “routinely included prescribing narcotics and other medications and controlled substances in amounts and/or for durations not medically necessary, advisable, or justified for a diagnosed condition.” Smith’s medical license was placed on probation for a period of not less than three years, beginning on October 11, 2012. According to the indictment, On November 4, 2015, the Board lifted the probation and Smith again began illegally prescribing highly addictive opioids, continuing through February 2019.
In March, the FBI and DEA raided Smith’s Office and temporarily shut the office down. When Smith County Insider reached out to the FBI for comment, they would not release any information at that time, but did acknowledge that they were at that office in early March.
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