A doctor from the New York region of Long Island who advised in his car was charged with the second-degree murder of five people who died between 2016 and 2018 as a result of prescriptions he provided, local media reported Thursday.
George Blatti, 75, appeared in court on Thursday after five second-degree murders and 11 times reckless negligence.
The allegations stem from an investigation of several overdose cases in August 2018, some of which resulted in the deaths of the individuals, according to prosecutor Madeline Sigas, who revealed that several patients were in possession of an exorbitant number of opioid prescriptions. in your possession signed by Blatti.
The defendant, a general practitioner licensed in 1976, had not specialized in pain management, according to the prosecution.
He worked for a time from a makeshift office in a local Franklin Square store that used to belong to an electronics chain that kept the posters for that company.
It was in that office where he reportedly met clients until 2019, according to the details of the indictment, and after not having access to that space, he began receiving them in his vehicle, where he prescribed drugs without examining the patients since the parking lot. from a hotel where he lived.
The prosecution notes that the patients, who were addicted to opiates, went to Blatti to apply for these highly addictive drugs, and despite not having their medical history, he prescribed the resources and submitted these people’s health insurance. account.
Arrested April 18, 2019, Blatti is said to have bypassed New York State’s electronic prescription system by using only physical documents.
“This doctor’s prescription was as deadly as any other murder weapon,” said the prosecutor.
“We allege that Dr. Blatti has shown a depraved disregard for human life, disregard for the law, his ethical obligations and the requests of patients and their families,” added the lawyer, insisting that prescribed dangerous drugs to victims trapped in addiction, ultimately killing five patients. “
“As we continue to combat the opioid epidemic that has ravaged our communities, this indictment is a powerful message to any physician seeking to capitalize on the addiction of their vulnerable patients,” he said.
At least 400,000 people have died in the country since 1999 from overdoses with legal and illegal opiates, according to figures from US authorities.