Death fuels brouhaha over OxyContin prescribing practices

Lawsuits against the drug's manufacturer have snowballed. And a Florida physician faces murder charges in connection with a prescription for the drug.

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. Aug. 20, 2001.

It doesn't look like the controversy surrounding the painkiller OxyContin will be abating any time soon.

What started with a couple of lawsuits filed against the drug's manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, has snowballed into 13 civil cases filed in the eastern United States. And in Florida, one physician has been charged with murder, accused of improperly prescribing the drug that contributed to a 21-year-old man's death.

The murder charge was part of an 80-count indictment a Florida grand jury handed down against family physician Denis Deonarine, MD. Dr. Deonarine also is charged with racketeering and drug trafficking involving oxycodone hydrochloride, alprazolam and diazepam.

The first-degree murder charge is in connection with the death of Michael Labzda. He died in February, and an autopsy found oxycodone hydrochloride and alprazolam in his blood. The state accused Dr. Deonarine of prescribing the drugs without medical documentation justifying the need, according to court documents.

Dr. Deonarine pleaded not guilty to the charges and is free on bail. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful, and calls to his attorney were not returned.

Dr. Deonarine's indictment has put some Florida physicians on edge about prescribing OxyContin (oxycodone hydrochloride).

"It will have a negative impact," said Miami pain medicine specialist Albert Ray, MD, president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. "It affects patients' perception of the treatment, and it affects the physicians when it comes to prescribing." [...]