DEA Suspends Dr. Dominique’s License

[daverx]

Link: http://www.polkonline.com/stories/103003/loc_suspends.shtml


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HAINES CITY -- U.S. drug enforcement agents say they've busted a Haines City-based online prescription scheme that resulted in the near fatal overdose of a California woman.


The DEA suspended last week Dr. Jean Coileau Dominique's license to prescribe narcotics, accusing him of being "an imminent danger to public health and safety."


Dominique, who used addresses at 135 N. Sixth St. and 608 Jones St., both in Haines City, can challenge the suspension. No date was set for the hearing, said Joe Kilmer, a Miami-based DEA spokesman. A request for comment left at Dominique's Jones Street office, advertised as Mid-Florida Medical Walk-In Clinic, went unanswered.


Haines City records list no occupational license for a physician's office at either downtown location.


Investigators report that Dominique purchased more than 4 million doses of hydrocodone, a painkiller, from a single distributor between last November and Aug. 12.


A state Department of Health Web site listed no disciplinary action Wednesday against Dominique. A spokeswoman had no further information.


Dominique, who moved his office from Kissimmee earlier this year, is accused of violating the DEA's 18-month-old prohibition on prescribing narcotics based solely on Internet or telephone exams. According to the suspension order, Dominique sent potentially addictive drugs to faceless patients who filled out online surveys after phone interviews.


According to reports, two sham patients used by DEA investigators in Orlando acquired hydrocodone, a class of opiate including Vicodin, without face-to-face exams or medical records. The orders were filled strictly based on a phone conversation. In one case, the fictitious patient reported never having his "Jet Ski" injury examined by a physician.


Employees who were not necessarily physicians conducted the phone interviews in both cases before painkillers and refills were mailed to the DEA agent. Dominique, who reportedly saw patients at 135 N. Sixth St. above Cardsync, allegedly informed an associate the activity was in a "gray area" under Florida law.


Investigators raided Dominique's Jones Avenue office Oct. 22. A single receptionist was the only office worker apparent Wednesday. She did not expect Dominique to return to the office. DEA agents report Dominique "saw few, if any, walk-in patients" at either Haines City office, or the original office in Kissimmee.


Neighbors reported seeing only office workers entering offices in the remodeled former Pit Stop bar. Dominique maintained offices at the CardSync credit card processing building while the bar was being remodeled, property owner Larry Baldwin said. But Baldwin still has not finished the upstairs where Dominique allegedly told the DEA he examined patients.


Baldwin owned the Pit Stop until two months ago. The site was purchased for $220,000 in August by Huevel & Associates Inc., Davenport. Employees at Cardsync declined Wednesday to comment on the case. Baldwin continues to own the Cardsync building on upper Sixth Street.


According to reports, a Hollister, Calif., woman identified only as "D.R." nearly overdosed on a combination of alcohol and Valium that Dominique prescribed about a week after he received DEA permission to move to Jones Avenue. She was discovered unconscious the day a drug refill arrived, according to DEA investigators.


Before Dominique moved to Haines City, hydrocodone he reportedly prescribed online contributed to the fatal overdose of a San Francisco man last September. Two other physicians also prescribed painkillers taken simultaneously by the man who later died.


According to the DEA, patients who tried to cancel their order could not say no to Dominique's office staff. An Oberlin, Ohio, air traffic controller originally acquired 100 doses of Vicodin from Dominique "bas

[redex]

Right, the label said take a half bottle of valium with a half bottle of vodka GMAFB!


According to reports, a Hollister, Calif., woman identified only as "D.R." nearly overdosed on a combination of alcohol and Valium that Dominique prescribed about a week after he received DEA permission to move to Jones Avenue. She was discovered unconscious the day a drug refill arrived, according to DEA investigators.


At least no one is offering Hydro anymore Thank goodness! Still there is the phent to be concerned with. When all this blows over and we are all selling viagra, BC pills and herps meds, we will be thankful for what we had and what we can still do.

[iggy]

interesting that they decided to remove license rather than arrest him

[chicago]

Anyone prescribing Hyrdro online deserves to getraided IMO.

[smokey]

Wish they would do somearticles on how people od on cough medcine...If someone wants to commit suicide they can do with over the counter meds. I don't think the prescription meds are the issue......

[redex]

The Doc's methods of practicing medicine are still debatable. There is no punishable offense outlined by any law. The only thing ther DEA can do is remove the imminent danger to the public by suspending his license. He committed no crime.

[kaylowe]

As to why DEA suspended narcotic-prescribing priveleges - they have the authority to do that sort of on an "emergency" basis when there is cause for public concern. However, an arrest on criminal charges is up to the grand jury, usually in a case like this. An arrest would be based on the DEA presenting evidence that a crime has been committed. The DEA registration certificate and crimina charges are separate issues.


Note that the hydrocodone was what caused the problem. That seems to have gotten ALL of this started.


Good evening,


Kay

[chicago]

Note that the hydrocodone was what caused the problem. That seems to have gotten ALL of this started.

I agree for sure.

[phalaris]

Actually it was Hydrocodone, Vicodin, Xanax spam which got it started. These mostly individual run outfits were there well before spammers started making high pitch campaigns like " VICODIN Is Here, Just Pennies per Tablet,FREE-shipping on a 3 month supply (90-count), Noprior prescription needed"


Such assholes are mostly to blame for this mess.

[pillz]

Yep, the email spammers caused this. I also see that the woman who almost OD'd took a combo of valium and alcohol.Is this the Dr's fault?

[kaylowe]

Believe me. I am not conerned about lawsuits because I am convinced that we are not liable. In addressing the risk, however:


1. Viagra can be dangerous if used with nitrates, etc. What about the man who has a heart attack while having sex?


2. Ditto levitra.


And these are not controlled substances. There have also been warnings re: vioxx.


3. Ultram has received a lot of publicity for triggering addictions even though technically not addictive. I personally know someone who was trying to sue the manufacturer because he relapsed into his addiction after taking Ultram.


Do I need to go on? Almost ALL of the drugs we carry have some risk. And let's face it, this country loves to sue!!!


Just my $0.02 re: the woman who od'd mixing Xanax and ETOH. Duh!!!


Kay

[chicago]

unfortunately when people make poor decisions the rest of America is to blame or has to suffer.

[icollect]

The DEA is seizing on any opportunity to raid ops. How many people OD daily on Valium obtained from brick and mortar drugstores. The risk is always there when prescribing any sedative, they wouldn't have the drug if they didn't have some sort of nerve or mental distrubance. I think you have to look beyond the headlines here. How many people OD daily from drugs obtained from Wallmart. How mant presciptions for controled substance does Wallmart fill daily.


The point is, what is different in thetwo scenarios. I know several real world doctors thatare legends for the number of narcotic prescriptions they write. Many hospital emergency rooms that are famous for writing prescriptions. I think there is a lot moreto the story and it doesn't have a happy ending.

[daverx]

Well he also was buying hydro and selling it himself under the guise of a "pharmacy." There was no licensed pharmacist to oversee it, so it was illegal, as he wasn't licensed a dispensing doctor and had a stake in the pharmacy that dispensed it. My understanding of the law is that it's legal for the doctor to price-split with the pharmacy, but only legal for the doctor to own the pharmacy if he is a licensed dispensing physician. Dr. Dominique wasn't, nor did he have a pharmacist on staff.


-daverx

[chicago]

it's so much easier for them to blame the fact that it was obtained online though which is not good for us. I understand your points and I agree with all most everything thing you have posted on this board but the fact is no matter what , if anyone obtains meds online and dies, the family and government sectors that are determined to bring all of this down, will sucessfully argue that the person would not have died if they couldnt get drugs online.


We need some way to find out how to make things stricter and a way to not make us look like drug dealers. The leasing agent for the apartment building I am living insists on making comments towards me as if I am a drug dealer because of what I do and it actually bothers me to think that other people may think that. Kind of off topic but just thought I would say that.