A doctor in Columbia County, Florida (which is about an hour west of Jacksonville, Florida) was arrested on charges of assisting in obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and unauthorized possession of prescription forms. In a prior post, we discussed how law enforcement authorities in Jacksonville and other areas in Florida are increasingly looking at alleged illegal drug crimes involving prescription drugs as more people, particular younger people, are abusing prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Xanax, Percocet and many others. Police are focusing not just on the users but on doctors and other staff members at hospitals and doctors’ offices who have access to the prescription drugs and prescription drug forms.
According to the article, Dr. Yong Am Park, who is the subject of this criminal investigation, also had his medical license suspended by the Florida Department of Health. He will likely face a hearing down the road that may determine whether he will be able to continue practicing medicine. A doctor accused of crimes faces an additional sanction of losing his/her medical license and ability to make a living as he/she did before in addition to the criminal charges, particularly when those criminal charges directly relate to the doctor’s practice.