Former IU Health doctor found not guilty of reckless homicide by over prescribing painkillers
INDIANAPOLIS — A former IU Health doctor accused of over-prescribing opioids was found not guilty by a Marion County jury Monday.
Dr. John K. Sturman was originally charged in August 2015 with three counts of reckless homicide and 16 counts of issuing invalid prescription drugs for allegedly overprescribing pain medication to patients – some of whom later overdosed and died.
Sturman operated a clinic at Indiana University Hospital until 2012, when he lost his admitting privileges for failing to properly document patient visits.
Investigators alleged that from 2008-2012, Sturman had displayed a pattern of prescribing large amounts of pain medication “outside the usual course of medical care.”
A Marion County jury dismissed the charges against Sturman in December 2015, but Prosecutor Terry Curry appealed that decision. His appeal was granted in July 2016 and charges were again filed against Sturman.
On Monday, following a six-day trial, Sturman was found not guilty on all counts against him.
After his tenure at IU Health, Sturman worked as the chief of pain management for the VA Illiana Health Care System. The health network’s website does not currently list him on staff.
Filed under: General Problems
I’ve researched the CSA and can’t locate anything that would give authority to the DEA or state medical boards to invade the Dr, patient relationship and seize assets, suspend and revoke licenses as well as ruin thousands of innocent lives the way they are. Michigan is really hideous for this, just reviewed disciplinary actions on LARA website and it’s mind-boggling how we have ANY health professionals left in this state and they are fining everyone even for minor infractions. Can anyone point me to where in the CIA or elsewhere I can find the laws for this twisted government behavoir?
There are none,,,in writing,,they just have TWISTED existing laws and literally changed definitions that have been on the books for centuries to be able to arrest innocent men/women!maryw
I think that if you read up on the Harrison Narcotic Act 1914 and in 1917 that our judicial system declared that opiate addiction was a CRIME and not a DISEASE and at that time it became ILLEGAL for any physician to treat/maintain a opium addict. There is a seizure act on the books somewhere.. where any ill gotten gain from “dealing drugs’ could be seized.
The civil forfeiture law allows the DEA to keep what they seize and typically 80% of those people who have had their property seized or never charged or convicted of a crime and typically, they are lucky if they get back HALF of what was seized.
“Overprescribing” – Since physical pain is subjective to each human who suffers from it and each human metabolizes pain medication differently, how on earth can anyone other than the doctor and his patient determine whether the doctor is “overprescribing” pain medication?
“Outside the usual course of medical care” – Doctors are allowed to prescribe medications off-label. Here’s another example which shows that the same flexibility for those taking medications which have not been studied or approved by the FDA to treat specific conditions does not apply to pain medications. Double standard, as usual. In other words, why is it okay for doctors to prescribe risky medications approved to treat episodes of psychosis (including hallucinations) or medications approved to treat seizure disorders to those who don’t suffer from psychosis or seizure disorders but do suffer from physical pain?
I’m glad to see this jury had some common sense regarding this. Also, why in the hell do they hold a doctor responsible when their patient does not adhere to the directions of the medication, chooses to take large quantities of medication, and/or mixing it with potentially-harmful substances (including alcohol). Are doctors supposed to have x-ray vision or can they see into the future of their patients? It’s absolutely ludicrous to blame others for another adult’s poor decisions.
DITTO TRACY,, its about time,,”informed consent,” was honored in court of law,,Our doctors are getting treated just a inhumanely as we are,,Good,,,finally,,, a judge/jury who put the responsibility right where it belongs,,,on the ADULT PATIENT,, for being reckless,unlawful w/their own medicine. We need more of these out comes for sure!!!
I have mixed feelings about this and I think I would have to know more about it before having an opinion.