Dewey C. MacKay, MD, a Utah orthopedic surgeon on trial for 85 counts of illegally prescribing pain medication, told the court that all the drugs he prescribed were medically justified to help patients function and improve their quality of life, according to a report by the Deseret News.
The charges against Dr. MacKay focus on 12 of his patients, including one who died after taking a hydrocodone binge. Prosecutors allege he had the highest volume of hydrocodone prescriptions and the fourth-highest volume for oxycodone prescriptions in the state from Jan. 2005 to June 2008.
Acknowledging reports that he never checked patients' pulse, blood pressure, weight, heart or lung functions, Dr. MacKay said orthopedic clinics do not check routine vital signs.
Read the Deseret News report on Dr. Dewey MacKay.
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