Physician receives second-degree murder sentence for overprescribing pain medication: 6 key points

Practice Management

A judge sentenced Lisa Tseng, MD, to 30 years to life for the murder of three people after prescribing the patients painkillers including Percocet and Vicodin, according to CNN.

Here are six key points:

 

1. The conviction is the first time a physician has been sentenced for murdering patients by overprescibing pain medication.

 

2. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney John Nidermann was the lead prosecutor on the case.

 

3. Dr. Tseng was charged with second-degree murder charges for the deaths of the three patients. Mr. Nidermann claimed the murder charges were warranted as the physician was already on notice about the deaths of three other patients.

 

4. During the trial, Dr. Tseng testified she did not see the calls as an issue and deemed the calls "just FYI" notices.

 

5. Dr. Tseng's lawyer claimed the physician was dealing with manipulative patients. The physician also claimed she did not have sufficient training in prescribing painkillers.

 

6. Dr. Tseng will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in prison.

 

More articles on practice management:
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