ROSLYNN R. MAUSKOPF, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and JOHN P. GILBRIDE, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division, announced the filing of a consent judgment against ALFREDO DAOS, a medical doctor, under which he agreed to pay a penalty of $10,000 and to cease writing prescriptions for controlled substances unless he first examines the patient on the prescription.

The consent judgment was approved by United States District Judge Leonard D. Wexler at the U. S. Courthouse, in Central Islip, New York.

DAOS entered into the consent judgment to settle a civil action brought against him by the United States for violation of the Controlled Substances Act. The government's complaint alleged that DAOS violated the Act by writing a total of nine prescriptions for vicodin during the period July 2000 through October 2001, for a person he had neither met nor examined.

Vicodin, a painkiller, is regulated as a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Pursuant to that Act, an individual can legally obtain vicodin only through a prescription issued by a medical professional, such as a doctor. The medical professional is permitted to write the prescription only if he or she is acting in the usual course of professional practice, which includes monitoring those who take vicodin. DAOS violated the Act by writing prescriptions for a person he had not seen or examined.

"We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute allegations of illegal sale or misuse of prescription controlled substances," stated United States Attorney MAUSKOPF. "This case is one of several brought by our office to stop the practice by certain doctors of prescribing controlled substances without conducting a proper examination. This practice is particularly disturbing because doctors have violated their oaths and the public trust by writing these prescriptions."

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge GILBRIDE stated, "The Drug Enforcement Administration remains committed to investigating those medical professionals who recklessly abuse their authority by providing powerful painkillers without conducting proper examinations. When one out of every ten high school seniors reports abusing powerful prescription painkillers, to do otherwise would not be in the best interest of the public."

The government's case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elliot M. Schachner

The Defendant:

ALFREDO DAOS
157 Long Beach Boulevard
Long Beach, NY

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