Warrants: Limbaugh Was 'Doctor Shopping'

My Way.Com ^ | 12/4/03 | Jill Barton

[Lucky2]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Investigators raided the offices of Rush Limbaugh's doctor Thursday, saying in search warrants that the conservative radio commentator engaged in illegal drug use and "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers.

The warrants show investigators were looking for records including prescription disbursements, appointment schedules, receipts and a medical questionnaire.

"Mr. Limbaugh's actions violate the letter, and spirit" of the law that relates to "doctor shopping," stated one of warrants, signed by Asim Brown, a law enforcement agent assigned to the state attorney's office anti-money laundering task force. Doctor shopping refers to looking for a doctor willing to prescribe drugs illegally.

Limbaugh denied any wrongdoing to listeners on his radio show earlier Thursday and accused prosecutors in Palm Beach County of going on a "fishing expedition."

[Hot Tabasco]

Kendall Coffey, a former Federal Prosecutor from Miami, was just on MSNBC

Well, since it was a former on MSNBC, it must be gospel. Anybody here got a rope? I've got all the information I need!

[skinkinthegrass]

...in seeing the feds go after Clinton's "sniffing problem" and dig up how much he's been taking "illegally" over the years"..

Like Mena?...Why do you think Bubba got really pissed in a '94 news conference, when he was asked about the Mena Regional Airport...IMHO, Thats' where he/roger got their drugs from.

[ladyinred]

Can someones private medical records be released to the public like this?

With the new medical privacy act, I can't even find out if my own husband has been in an accident and is a patient in a local hospital anymore. I can't imagine that they could release his records to the public.

[gitmo]

I thought Hillary's bill was defeated. Wasn't she the one who wanted to tell each American what doctor they would be permitted to see?

[Sofa King]

Notice the headline of the story:

"Warrants: Limbaugh Was 'Doctor Shopping'"

Since when do warrants say what a someone was or was not doing?

[HapaxLegamenon]

You mean we have laws which come between a docotr and his patient. I think the government should stay out of the medicine cabinet and let docotrs decide what is right for their patients

[churchillbuff]

There is a lot of doctor shopping going on, I hear about it all of the time. I have never heard of anyone getting prosecuted for it however. Anyone else?

THE PREMISE BEHIND HILLARYCARE IS THAT THERE MAY BE NO "DOCTOR SHOPPING" THE GOVERNMENT ASSIGNS YOU YOUR DOCTOR, AND YOU'LL LIKE IT -- OR ELSE.

[churchillbuff]

Hillary-style socialized medicine does not allow shopping for doctors. A doctor is assigned to you by government regulators. Any attempt to "shop" for another doctor is punishable.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

It's his fault, he screwed up, and he has to take the responsibility for it, and if necessary the legal beat-down. This has nothing to do with the dems, the clintons or the left.

Rush has enemies, and he's given them the ammunition to destroy him. His behavior, of which we only know a little, was risky, even bizarre.

[PFKEY]

I think the issue is going to several doctors and being treated/given a script for the same problem at the same time.

With DDD you go to Doctor#1 and he gives you a perscription for pain meds.

You go to Doctor#2 and do not tell him you are being treated by doctor#1 for DDD and he gives you a perscription for pain meds.

You go to Doctor#3 and he wont give you anything for DDD.

You go to Doctor#4 and don't tell him you are being treated for DDD by Doctor#1 and Doctor#2 so he gives you a perscription for pain meds.

And so on and so on.

[HapaxLegamenon]

1-800-Doctors, which helps you shop for a doctor is in trouble also.

[Erik Latranyi]

If Rush doctor shopped - he may need be prosecuted.

The mitigating factor is that he was not reselling the painkillers.

End of story.

[churchillbuff]

he should move his show to Jamaica.

There's a thought - - he could become a pirate broadcaster!

[HapaxLegamenon]

Not only that, he has been "route-shopping" to find the road with the highest speed limit.

[ladyinred]

Yes, that is the premise here. Usually, at least it used to be, the patient is dismissed and that is the end of it, unless they are reselling. Although I know of a case where the LVN was selling the drugs right out of the cabinet and even she was just fired.

[ladyinred]

You mean we have laws which come between a docotr and his patient. I think the government should stay out of the medicine cabinet and let docotrs decide what is right for their patients

Now there is a concept! I bet some doctor's would welcome that to a point.

[tacticalogic]

BTW: Terrorist are using drugs to finance terrorism. Ashcroft is doing his job. The laws are made by Congress, so go tell them to legalize pot. Lobby the ones who can do what it is you want. If you can get enough of them to agree with you, bingo, you are "everfree!" That's how our constitution works isn't it?

The process of scheduling of drugs, and so determining their legality involves, from start to finish, not one publicly elected representative of the people. As far as the constitution goes, the whole process is built upon that steaming pile of socialist sophistry we refer to in polite company as the New Deal Commerce Clause.

[Walkin Man]

Please enlighten us.

Rush is a self-admitted hillbilly heroin addict. Do you think he went to a addiction treatment center for 4 or 5 weeks for the fun of it?

He was buying prescription drugs illegally from his so-called "maid" to accomplish this.

These drugs didn't just appear out of thin air and if you buy them from your "maid" you are breaking the law.

Now it appears like Rush might have been shopping around a number of different doctors to get pills as well, also an illegal act and possibly trying to skirt money-laundrying laws as well.

Yeah what a great spokesman for the conservative cause.../sarcasm.

Rush is an actor and a junkie, one of many. Get over it and move on.

I hope he conquerers his demons but whatever the outcome Rush is a hypocrite.

[hapc]

Excellent point, this is a worthless prosecution unless it can be proven that Rush was selling the opiate to get more money off the books to the maid where Marta couldn't see it.

End of story..

[mathluv]

I guess I missed his trial and conviction.