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."

[ladyinred]

They are watching for cough medicine addicts too.

Wow! That is just unbelievable!

[princess leah]

I sure would be interested in seeing the feds go after Clinton's "sniffing problem" and dig up how much he's been taking "illegally" over the years"...Bet he snorts enough coke to keep all of south america financed.

[The Electrician]

Interesting bit of research there...

[CobaltBlue]

Good pain management isn't about giving somebody a lot of pills. John Bonica, now deceased, was a pioneer in the study of pain management. There are now hundreds of pain management clinics that use his methods.

Pain Management, Third Edition
American Pain Society

You can find more via google using as search terms

John Bonica pain clinic

I have rheumatoid arthritis, so know a bit about pain, myself. So far all I have to take are Celebrex, methotrexate, the occasional cortisone shot, and to sleep Tylenol #3 with codeine, two of which leave me sleepy and groggy in the morning. Becoming a drug addict isn't something I'd do willingly.

[ladyinred]

Thanks, I know people do that. We have a business in the medical field, and I have friends galore who work in doctor's offices. I have just never heard of anyone getting the DA after them for this, unless they were forging scripts, and sometimes not even then!

The bad thing is , this makes it tough on those who really need pain meds. Everyone is suspect! You are better off if you can stick with one doctor, but that isn't always possible, especially with HMO's. This is a bad situation.

[Maria S]

"Well if it is, we might as well lock up 5 or 10 million addicts - starting with the sleeping-pill-poppers in Congress. Gotta be at least 20 % of them, they got such stressful jobs..."

You are correct. There are many folks out there who are 'over medicating' in a similar fashion...Paxil, Valium, the stuff Rush was using for pain, etc.

[ImpBill]

I'm with you and would like to the statute that by the "letter of the law", shopping for a Doctor is against the law. And if there is a law that says this then we are indeed in deep doo doo and I might not be able to post again as I will be in jail for "Doctor Shopping" myself. I am in a new area and I have seen three doctors so far that don't measure up to my standards and am still looking for one to act as my GP. Turn me in and get the reward.

[Howlin]

Imp, there's quite a bit of difference when you're "trying out" doctors than when you're going from doctor to doctor trying to get the same RX for a controlled substance.

[CobaltBlue]

My dad is a dentist, so I grew up watching him deal with prescription fraud. I can't count the number of times he'd go to his office at night or on the weekends to see a new patient with "a toothache" who just wanted drugs, never to be seen again. This scam is as old as the hills.

[ladyinred]

I sure would be interested in seeing the feds go after Clinton's "sniffing problem" and dig up how much he's been taking "illegally" over the years"...Bet he snorts enough coke to keep all of south america financed. 82 posted on 12/04/2003 3:49:09 PM PST by princess leah

I am with you there, but that isn't going to happen. Sigh!

[Finalapproach29er]

They want to force Jeb to pardon him to hurt his chances in 2008, and to blunt critics who say the Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they captured/killed.

Also presc. pills are a huge national problem. A high profile prosection serves a public function. I'd be nervous if I were Rush.

The good news is that it will look political, and Jeb's daughter was let off the hook. Still, Rush is a damn fool for living in Democratic territory. Hope he comes out of this OK.

[k2blader]

Hm. Figures.

[habs4ever]

Agreed.

[tacticalogic]

You are correct. There are many folks out there who are 'over medicating' in a similar fashion...Paxil, Valium, the stuff Rush was using for pain, etc.

Add to that the people who are using those meds, and others, in combination with alcohol or other drugs AMA.

[mercy]

I wonder if Rush will testify against these evil doctors who tried to ruin his life if they are prosecuted? Or the maid? Surely he is cooperating with the police to insure that this evildoer goes to jail. What else would a law abiding conservative do? I mean, respect for the law is paramount is it not? One must do one's civic duty.

IF .... IF ... this turns out to be the case .... I will spit on his snitch grave.

[Ragirl]

They are watching for cough medicine addicts too.

Wow! That is just unbelievable!

What really got me angry, is that they asked me to call them back after getting home with social security numbers and drivers license numbers of my sons & my husband since they had been prescribed cough medicines! I had to tell them my 3 year old doesn't normally carry ID. It's some new law, and I'm not sure if it's a federal law or a state law, but it makes ya think.

[skinkinthegrass]

..it's a good thing there aren't terrorists running around or any other kinds of threats like that which these law enforcement types could otherwise be working on.

...Shrillarys' paw prints are all over these actions..(The Palm Beach D.A. has received his marching orders from Shrillay.)..besides the Terrorists are Shrillarys' Allies...their goals are the same, to destroy America. :/

[ImpBill]

"Rush's non-violent, non-imposing self medication that cost the public $0.00."

< sarcasm > Not literally true! The States Attorney and his policeman, Asim Brown, are paid through the public coffers. So Rush's non-violent and non-imposing self medication is NOW costing the public more than $0.00. < /sarcasm >

But of course it was the States Attorney who made the decision to spend those public dollars on this "witch hunt".

Note to Asim Brown ... I think the spirit of the law was to keep scripts off the streets. I don't think Maha Rushie needs the money from street sales of Oxy to supplement his meager income.

[ladyinred]

I am sure it is. My cousin, years ago was doing this. She was found out, but nothing, and I mean nothing was done about it, except those doctors and drug stores cut her off that she was using.

[B Knotts]

I didn't know doctor shopping was against the law.

Anything which is not compulsory is prohibited.
Anything which is not prohibited is compulsory.

OK...we're not quite there yet, but we're headed in that direction at a rather rapid pace.