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."

[Taliesan]

If Rush did the crime, he should do the time.

I agree. And I can tell you for a fact that, in my community, you could not get an investigation even started for "doctor shopping". And a request for a subpoena would get you laughed out.

[Just mythoughts]

So Palm Beach has Hillary "CARE". Sending doctors to jail.

[el_texicano]

"The rules don't apply to the rich and famous, especially when they are people you admire.

1. you haven't cited a specific violation of the law. What's the law and what's the evidence. At best you have only sketchy info.

2. I think your comments as with some others here smacks more of class envy than of any real indignation over a supposed/imagined violation of the law by Rush.

3. Having said that, now i'm sure the "mature" response will be that all those disagreeing with you and others on the same vein is because of "Rush worship". And as such, it ain't worth a response to dignify it.

[blackie]

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!

[LucyJo]

My thoughts exactly with regard to the Bubba brigade and their investigative efforts. Add to that those researching efforts mentioned in the quote at post #56 by JBT:

Justice Jackson, a former US Attorney General and later Justice of the Supreme court wrote: "With the law books filled with a great assortment of crimes, a prosecutor stands a fair chance of finding at least a technical violation of some sort on the part of almost anyone. In such a case, it is not a question of discovering the commission of a crime and then looking for the man who committed it, it is a question of picking the man, and then searching the law books, or putting investigators to work, to pin some offense on him."

A busy bunch of tumble bugs for certain.

[bothsidesnow]

he already is supposedly-he broadcasts from his Palm Beach home and it is against some sity code-Jack Cole(broadcaster-now deceased) had this as a cause celebe when Rush was first in Palm Beach. You think he is doing his show from NY and most of the time it is from PB.
Lizzie

[CobaltBlue]

Auggy - do us both a favor, will ya, fella? If someone disagrees with your point of view, that doesn't make them a liberal. I know you worship the ground Rush walks on, but he's already admitted to abusing drugs, so maybe you should consider being a mite skeptical of your hero until it's all over.

[CobaltBlue]

I assume by your sense of assurance that nobody in your community would investigate the allegations in this case, you are either a police detective or a prosecutor (or possibly a judge). And perhaps you are correct that in your community, nobody would investigate.

In my community, when a nice fat case like this practically falls into your lap, and the alleged perp is a big name, and the case is going to be high profile, hell, yes, they'll investigate. We already have several high profile cases going, including some involving prescription fraud, which is defined, in part, as follows:

§ 18.2-258.1. Obtaining drugs, procuring administration of controlled substances, etc., by fraud, deceit or forgery. --

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to obtain or attempt to obtain any drug or procure or attempt to procure the administration of any controlled substance or marijuana: (i) by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, embezzlement, or subterfuge; or (ii) by the forgery or alteration of a prescription or of any written order; or (iii) by the concealment of a material fact; or (iv) by the use of a false name or the giving of a false address.

Virginia Code § 18.2-258.1

This is not only a felony, but a crime of moral turpitude.

[js1138]

i) by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, embezzlement, or subterfuge; or (ii) by the forgery or alteration of a prescription or of any written order; or (iii) by the concealment of a material fact; or (iv) by the use of a false name or the giving of a false address.

I don't see doctor shopping on this list. I don't doubt that laws were broken, but folks with a legitimate medical need for pain killers who become addicted are not, in my opinion criminals. If I were on a jury I would nullify, even if the defendant were Bill Clinton.

This kind of thing should be a civil offense or misdemeanor.

[Mamzelle]

gallbladder--

Good grief! How long ago was this?

[driftless]

You're comparing apples and oranges. For one thing Limbaugh was not involved with illegal drugs. If you can find a case of someone sentenced to prison for what Limbaugh did, then I'm with you. I'm not condoning what Limbaugh did, severe pain or not. But it's obvious that many libs want him to go to jail because of who he is not because of what he allegedly did . I've heard a number of high-profile celebrities, mostly libs, brag about or admit to illegal drug use. Not one of the people who are hounding Limbaugh are demanding that these other violators go to prison for what they did.

[auggy]

"Auggy - do us both a favor, will ya, fella? If someone disagrees with your point of view, that doesn't make them a liberal. I know you worship the ground Rush walks on, but he's already admitted to abusing drugs, so maybe you should consider being a mite skeptical of your hero until it's all over."

If, you are not liberal, why then are you so prompt to convict a conservative, for a crime that is usually never considered a crime. This is nothing more than a witch hunt. Makes no difference whether I love Rush, or hate him.

"If, Rush done the crime, he should do the time".

Just what crime are you speaking of? Being addicted to pain killers?

Take a hike.

Don't let the door slap you in the ass, on the way out.

[CobaltBlue]

So I guess you're saying that famous Republicans shouldn't be prosecuted when they break the law?

[CobaltBlue]

The crime he is alleged to have committed, as set forth in the affidavit in support of the search warrant, includes obtaining generic hydrocodone (Norco, Lorcet, Hydrocodone) and oxycontin in quantities which would kill a normal person from four doctors over a six month period, including periods which overlapped.

For example:
On 6/2/03, 30 Lorcet from Dr. Murray.
On 6/3/02, 240 Norco from Dr. Deziel.
On 6/10/03, 30 more Lorcet from Dr. Murray.
On 6/18/03, 100 more Norco from Dr. Deziel.
On 6/27/03, 40 Lorcet from Dr. Delacruz.
On 6/30/03, 100 Norco from Dr. Deziel.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/rushsearch5.html

[greasepaint]

Rush...is a Rockin' Dude !
I am IMPRESSED.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doc_o_day.html

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

It has been almost 7 years since the surgery, but it was 20 (I kid you not) of pain no one was able to diagnose. The episodes were sporadic at first, maybe once or twice a year. No residual effects afterwards.

Then the episodes increased in frequency as did the level of pain and the length of the episodes. We never decided if it was the bile ducts that caused the gallbladder inflammation or the other way around.

My only point in sharing my story is that I know what it is like through experience having pain so intense, so unbearable that life is a living hell.

I was not above doctor shopping for pain relief.

I had one doctor look at me and say "Gut pain is not unusual--I have irritable bowels and my gut hurts right now." In other words, "Get over it" It was like a death sentence to me. "F-You", I thought, "I am not going to endure this because your tummy hurts." Went to another doctor.

Sometimes I wonder if the fact that I was a woman had anything to do with the doctor's perception of my pain. But that is for another day.

Anyway, I shared my story for one reason. As presented, Rush began the oxycontin for unrelieveable pain. (Unlike Rush, I did not become addicted) I did not have the financial means he has, but I am also guilty of what he did. I never resorted to buying them from dealers off the street, but my best friend knew that if someone prescibed anything with codiene in it, I needed the leftovers. She saw the agony I was in, she would not do it if for one moment she thought I was looking for a fix for an addiction. But, I cannot sit here and tell you I would not have bought it from a street dealer if that was the only way I had to get it.

By concentrating on "Rush did the crime, he needs to do the time." we are falling into the very trap those with an agenda are planning. Yes, he did the crime (if it is proven in a court of law). BUT we need to expand the discussion if for no other reason than preventing the agenda driven from writing the script.

Separate those that doctor shop because of recreational drug use (scum bags) from those who feel thaey have no choice because pain is the controlling factor in their lives. From that, the discussion needs to focus on how to prevent those who are addiction prone from developing an addiction.

I have no numbers to bear me out, but I believe the aggressive treatment of pain (I am not talking about minor aches) for a physical problem rarely leads to an addiction IF the doctor understands pain control and he/she and the patient are committed to working together.

[driftless]

They should be treated like everyone else in the same situation.

[Mamzelle]

Gall bladder disease was not a diagnosis that could be made, years ago, from some cureall lab test. It still is not. These days we have the really cool ultrasound that pretty much decides whether surgery is necessary. What's cool about the ultrasound is that it can't hurt you (except your wallet.) It could well be that they didn't want to slice you open (these days they also have really cool laproscopes and don't slice) just because gbd MIGHT have been the problem. My guess is that your symptoms confused them--and this is the human end of medicine. I'm sorry to hear of the suffering you had to endure.

What I fear coming about from the Rush episode is docs being scared to treat pain--it's happened before. Docs are conservative, and do not like being called pushers. But most would rather treat pain than not. They also get lied to. Often.

[harpo11]

Yeah, and Bill Clinton and wife violated the letter and spirit of the law early and often and are still thinking of ways to continue to do so, but that was his personal life....so in liberal land, Ken Starr was just an "out-of-control prosecutor", yeah right.

I swear that if this persecution of Rush were happening to all citizens who suffer from prescribed painkiller drug addiction perhaps the DA can safely say he is not embarking on a full frontal attack on Rush, but because this is not happening, then I agree with Rush's attorney, it is political payback and witch hunt. I sure Bill and Mrs. Clinton are very happy to see this knee padded DA do their venomous bidding.