Posted on 06/27/2006 4:00:45 PM PDT by doesnt suffer fools gladly
Limbaugh Likely to Wait Several Days
By BRIAN SKOLOFF
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Rush Limbaugh will likely have to wait several days to find out if he violated his deal with prosecutors in a prescription fraud case when authorities found him in possession of a bottle of Viagra that was apparently prescribed to someone else, a spokesman for the state attorney's office said Tuesday.
Limbaugh, 55, was detained for more than three hours Monday at Palm Beach International Airport after he returned on his private plane from a vacation in the Dominican Republic. Customs officials found Viagra in his bag, but his name wasn't on the prescription, Palm Beach County sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller said.
Limbaugh's lawyer, Roy Black, said the prescription was written in his doctor's name "for privacy purposes." The conservative radio host was released without being charged and investigators confiscated the Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction.
Limbaugh joked about the search on his radio show Tuesday, saying Customs officials didn't believe him when he said he got the pills at the Clinton Library and he was told they were blue M&Ms. He later added, chuckling: "I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Wish I could tell you about it."
It is generally not illegal under Florida law for a physician to prescribe medication in a third party's name if all parties are aware and the doctor documents it correctly, said Mike Edmondson, a spokesman for the state attorney in Palm Beach County. He would not discuss specifics in the Limbaugh case Tuesday.
The sheriff's office was continuing its investigation and would turn the case over to prosecutors in several days, Edmondson said. The alleged violation could be a second-degree misdemeanor if Limbaugh's doctor doesn't confirm the prescription.
Under last month's deal with prosecutors, authorities will dismiss a "doctor shopping" charge if Limbaugh doesn't get arrested for 18 months, among other terms. Prosecutors had said he illegally deceived multiple doctors to get overlapping painkiller prescriptions. Limbaugh denied the charges but admitted he was addicted to painkillers.
This latest case may simply be dismissed if prosecutors can confirm with Limbaugh's doctor that the prescription was indeed for Limbaugh, said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. attorney in Florida.
"It's perhaps a little embarrassing but not highly incriminating," Coffey said.
In addition, possession of Viagra is in a "completely different universe than a matter that would involve Schedule Two (controlled) substances such as OxyContin" Coffey added.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Viagra is not considered a controlled substance because "it's not something you can be addicted to," said DEA Investigator Maria Gilbert.
The Food and Drug Administration oversees regulations concerning non-addictive drugs that are not considered controlled substances, Gilbert said. A telephone call to the FDA was not immediately returned Tuesday.
Gotta love the priorities.
I'd be ashamed to be connected with the Customs Service in a sting operation like this. Reminds me of the TSA nail clipper copper caper in Cleveland after 911.
Today most doctors receive sample quantities of prescription drugs from makers that they then dispense to their patients.
That is all quite legal. It is also legal for the doctor to write a prescription in his own name. Take it to a pharmacy, have it filled and then dispense it to patients.
I strongly suspect this is what was done.. it was done to keep some pharmacist from telling the world Rush filled a prescription for Viagra.
There would be nothing illegal in doing it. Someone was out to get Rush on drugs and did not get it done.
I want to know if this stands up in court.
It's all part of the big plan.
-PJ
Baby, Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me
Oh you're good, you're very good. :D
If it lasts longer than 4 hours, seek medical attention....
If it lasts longer than 4 hours, seek medical attention....
Ok, so I'm late with the information. As usual.
"Talent on loan from Pfizer"
It's a good thing I'm only drinking water, which does not leave a sticky residue on the keyboard.
Reminds me of when william jefferson blythe clinton was president and Bill O'Reilly was getting audited by the IRS every year. These abuses of power just go on and it makes me sick.
"If it last longer than four hours, seek medical attention"
FOR YOUR WIFE!
(Sorry)
LOL!
I guess that's the point. It's not hard to figure out.
"Move along people, nothing to see here"
The press will need at least one "new" angle every 8 hours or so to keep this story alive, news-cycle-wise. This is the first round.
Tell Limbaugh if he needs any more pills I have a basement full. -- HEF.
And Rush did the other half for them.
According to a Howie Carr caller, Rush said the trip was "Boys night out".
So what was he doing with Viagra...
All the comedians should have their musically lackeys doing "Men men men men....there's no one here but men men men men".
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