COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
A Midlands pediatric dentist has agreed to pay a fine and have limited ability to prescribe, dispense, or administer certain controlled substances over a period of time after it was alleged she unlawfully prescribed drugs to staff and friends, according to the United States Attorney's Office.
United States Attorney William N. Nettles announced on Thursday that
Dr. Chrislyn Lawhon has agreed to a settlement with the government concerning
allegations that she unlawfully prescribed the pain-relief narcotics Vicodin
and Percocet as well as the appetite suppressant Adipex to staff of her
practice as well as personal friends without a legitimate medical purpose and
outside of the usual course of her professional dentistry practice.
Dr.
Lawhon is a pediatric dentist who owns and operates Northeast Children's
Dentistry in Columbia, Nettles said.
As part of the settlement, Dr.
Lawhon has agreed to pay a fine of $37,500 as well as agreed to a Restricted
Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate of Registration that will limit her
ability to prescribe, administer, or dispense certain controlled substances for
at least the next three years.
Dr. Lawhon denies any wrongdoing.
"Prescription drug abuse is a fast-growing drug problem in South
Carolina," said Nettles. "The public health problems caused by prescription drug abuse are
well-documented. It is imperative that we do all we can to deter such
conduct, and that includes enforcing civil penalties against all medical professionals
who unlawfully write prescriptions."
This matter was
handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Leventis and Jennifer Aldrich with
the assistance of DEA Diversion Investigators.
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