FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
UNITED STATES SUES PHYSICIAN FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RECORDS OF THE USE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MORPHINE
BOSTON, MA - On October 26, 2009, the United States filed a civil Complaint against former physician, WILLIAM HOUGHTON, age 54, of Ashburnham, alleging multiple violations of the record keeping provisions of the Controlled Substances Act.
On January 18, 2005, HOUGHTON sexually assaulted a twenty year old female patient after administering morphine, a Class II controlled substance, an offense for which he was subsequently convicted in a state court action. The Complaint alleges that HOUGHTON failed to maintain or produce records evidencing that morphine was administered for a legitimate medical purpose, failed to maintain or produce records evidencing how the morphine used in the assault was obtained, failed to produce a required inventory of controlled substances and failed to properly account for missing forms used to order narcotics.
The Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970, inter alia, to reduce the number of legitimate controlled substances diverted into illegal drug traffic. To this end, it mandates adherence to stringent record keeping with regard to the lawful use of various regulated drugs in order to insure that narcotics and other controlled substances are dispensed for lawful purposes by persons authorized to do so. Failure to maintain the required records gives rise to potential civil penalties.
“This action should serve as a warning to those who are entrusted with the power to lawfully dispense narcotics, to do so only for legitimate medical purposes only. Dr. Houghton’s actions are an affront the ethical and law abiding physician community,” said Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks.
HOUGHTON faces civil penalties of up to $95,000.00 and a prohibition against ever dispensing controlled substances in the future.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Loucks’ Civil Division.
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