Unsafe Drugs: Ohio Doctor Charged in Drug Deaths

Dr. Paul Volkman, 60, an Ohio doctor, and two of his office managers have been charged with distributing painkillers illegally. The illegal distribution is believed to have lead to the deaths of at least 14 people. Volkman and the office managers are accused of having giving out more than 1.5 million painkillers between 2001 and 2006 while working at south Ohio clinics.

Ohio Doctor Indicted in Drug Deaths

Volkman is believed to have written prescriptions for excessive dosages of drugs and prescriptions for patients who did not need the drugs. After pharmacists became wary and refused to fill the prescriptions, Volkman and the office managers opened their own drug dispensary center. Many of the 14 patients who died after using drugs prescribed to them died from "multiple drug intoxication." Many of the patients at the clinic are believed to have been drug addicts who traveled extensive distances in order to get the drugs.